For Brits and nonBrits - Can A Cat Look At A Queen?

[tekla]

OK, today's big news, while the leaders of the world's biggest (and hence most recently screwed up economies) meet to try and stop the industrial and modern financial systems from spining on down the drain that their own mismanagement (or more to the point, non-management) opened up, the big news story is that Michelle Obama hugged the Queen.  Which I guess is not done (well, it has been now, but). 

Anyway, story at: (with photos)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/02/michelle-obama-hugs-queen_n_182237.html

Now the first thing you notice is that Michelle towers over Elizabeth II, I mean wow!

Now, the other thing is the queen put her arm around Michelle first.  That and I guess there are differences in Royal etiquette in whether or not the meeting was done in official rooms, or the private apartments - which is where this is, and I think that's not the usual deal.   

So, is this a big deal?  Does it matter?  How ever do the Brits keep all these rules straight?  Are you taught them in school?  Doesn't Michelle just rock?

[Sephirah]

Wait... this is big news?

Er... not to us Brits, apparently, lol. It's the first I'd heard.

I had to do a search on the BBC website to even find the story (click the link under the video).

Michelle Obama fever hits the UK

On meeting the Queen, she followed formality by curtseying, but later, during a reception, she showed her more casual, affectionate side by putting her arm around Her Majesty to hug her.

It is reported that the Queen was so taken by Mrs Obama she even said: "Now we've met, will you please keep in touch?"

So... um... I think as deals go, this isn't exactly earthshatteringly huge.

[vanna]

Hahaha

awww i adore brit perceptions, i am not a brit but have lived here a long time. I can assure anyone no one gives a "insert whatever word you like here" about ettiquette and hugging or if it was the queen. They teach something in many brit schools but is not ettiquette i can safely say

is the joy of u.k tabloids though, they make a really odd picture and not at all like the real britain.

funny story, yes she does rock btw

[Jay]

Mrs Obama rocks!

[Nero]

damn she's tiny!

[Pica Pica]

the queen has incredibly fluffy hair, impossibly fluffy hair.

[Nero]

and probably incredibly fluffy manners, impossibly fluffy manners.

[Jay]

Shes sweet though!

Jay

[Linus]

I think it just highlights one of society's big issues: we always assume certain things. In this case, the assumption was that the Queen doesn't like affection (she's queen and all). We often forget she's human. And while she was brought up to behave and be a certain way, I don't think she'd ever shy from an occasional huge or gesture of warmth if she feels it's genuine.

[NicholeW.]

Yes, tekla, Michelle rocks.

And she evidently doesn't just tower over the QofGB, she appears to tower over most everyone in that photo with the possible exceptions of the men, including Barack, in the background!

So one doesn't hug the queen? O my, wonder how she and the prince have handled that small matter in their relationship for the past almost 60 years?

Slow news day, I expect.

Nichole

[Pica Pica]

it was a big news day, I think they just didn't want to report the news that happened.

[Cindy]

Had this sort of c**p before from the tabloid press.
An Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, put his hand on the Queen's back to present her to something. It made big news in the UK tabloids as Mister Sleeze touches the Queen

My 5 cents worth (is that a dime BTW?) Obama and whole family really rock. I just hope they stay alive. USA has some past history of getting rid of the good.
Nothing personal in that.

LoL
Good Day Your Majestys; Can you have plural majesty?  What is a collection of Queens? A Mardi Gras?

[imaz]

As a British person may I say I would have given her a slap. The Queen that is!

Can't stand the whole institution of the the Royal family. Bring on the Republic, the sooner the better.

BTW at 18.30 yesterday I saw Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his motorcade in Edgware Road. Was stuck in traffic heading towards Marble Arch and he was coming the other way. Crap limo, could have tried harder, but have to say his security looked evil!

[Dennis]

I am so glad you guys (Americans) finally have a president and first lady the rest of the world can admire. And, as a Brit, I quite like the queen. Not sure that I'll be that fond of the monarchy when the rest of the rabble gets in there though. Excepting perhaps Prince William, she seems the last dignified monarch. It'll be the end of an era when she goes.

Dennis

[imaz]

I am so glad you guys (Americans) finally have a president and first lady the rest of the world can admire. And, as a Brit, I quite like the queen. Not sure that I'll be that fond of the monarchy when the rest of the rabble gets in there though. Excepting perhaps Prince William, she seems the last dignified monarch. It'll be the end of an era when she goes.

Dennis

William - she? Is there a scandal there!

[Cindy]

The Sun and Mirror will be on this one!
CJ
Always thought he walked funny

CJ

[imaz]

Hehe!

[NicholeW.]

I believe that Dennis was merely making an injudicious use of a pronoun instead of using a proper name.

N~

[tekla]

Well its interesting, as we roll all that stuff up into one family, the head of government, head of state, and head honcho.  So the trick is to seem polite, not violate any real area but never be seen to be bowing, or scraping, or groveling.   Odd, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy got away with a curtsy to the queen, but she was a special case, I'm sure it would not have looked right to see Michelle do it.

[NicholeW.]

Odd, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy got away with a curtsy to the queen, but she was a special case, I'm sure it would not have looked right to see Michelle do it.

No, more like Ms. Windsor would have curtsied to Michelle!