Post by pledm on Apr 2, 2009 11:24:01 GMT -5
Found this funny and cute;
Michelle Obama breaks royal protocol by giving the Queen a hug
michelle obama and queen
Harmless gesture? Michelle Obama with her hand on the Queen's back as they met at Buckingham Palace
America's First Lady Michelle Obama broke royal protocol during a reception at Buckingham Palace when she placed her arm around the Queen.
But rather than take offence, Her Majesty took the unusual step of returning the gesture by putting her arm round Mrs Obama's waist - almost as if to confirm the special relationship the politicians are so keen to play up.
The extraordinary scenes took place yesterday as Barack Obama made his first visit to Britain as U.S. President.
According to eyewitnesses, the exchange occurred as the Queen was waiting in the Throne Room following the official group picture with the national leaders here for the G20 Summit.
One said: 'There was a bit of a bottleneck as all of the leaders filed out so the Queen started chatting to Michelle Obama. She appeared to look up at her and make a comment about how tall she was.
'As she did, she put her arm around Mrs Obama and rested her gloved hand on the small of her back.'
Almost simultaneously, Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen's shoulders rather more firmly.
'The pair then looked at their feet and appeared to be discussing their shoes.
'The Queen then dropped her arm and, a few seconds later, Michelle did the same. The entire exchange lasted around eight to ten seconds but was absolutely extraordinary.'
No-one - including the ladies-in-waiting standing nearby - could believe their eyes. In 57 years, the Queen has never been seen to make that kind of gesture and it is certainly against all protocol to touch her.
'But she didn't seem to mind a bit and was smiling and joking throughout,' the eyewitness said.
Break from protocol: Michelle Obama puts her arm around the Queen, who reciprocates, as the pair chatted after a group picture of the G20 leaders was taken
Mrs Obama, who is nearly as tall as her 6ft 1in husband, towered over the Queen, a diminutive figure in pink, as they chatted. However, on his first meeting with the Queen, Barack Obama made it clear that it was he who looked up to her.
On friendly terms: The Queen pulls her arm away after a few seconds and Mrs Obama quickly followed suit
Michelle Obama and the Queen clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together.
Normally, it is forbidden under royal protocol to touch the Queen.
Perhaps the Queen's warmth towards Mrs Obama was down to the gift of an engraved iPod that the First Lady presented to Her Majesty. Whether there was any music on the device is open to speculation, but the iPod did contain video footage of the Queen's 2007 visit to America.
It is thought the Queen already owns an MP3 player on which she listens to downloads of the Proms.
The First Families of England and America posed for photographs before enjoying a 20-minute chat over tea
Yesterday's pow-wow at Buckingham Palace was also a break with tradition because visiting heads of state usually meet the monarch only if they are on a state visit.
Mrs Obama, 45, wore a black satin coat, with the same double string of white pearls she had worn for breakfast at Downing Street.
Michelle Obama shakes hands with the Queen as they arrive at the Palace
She looked slightly overawed at first but quickly put on a dazzling smile as her husband formally introduced her to Lady-in-Waiting Lady Airlie, who took them upstairs to the private apartments.
The Queen, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, had already held 'audiences' earlier in the day with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada.
First meeting: President Obama and his First Lady Michelle talk with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
Her introduction to Mr Obama was classed as a 'meeting' as he is a fellow head of state and therefore of equal standing.
By royal standards it was a rather informal 'getting to know you' session with no aides present - however, Mrs Obama did curtsey.
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Just thought it was cute.
oh here`s the G20;
Who's who
Back from left: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation; Abhisit Vejjajiva, chair of Asean and Prime Minister of Thailand; Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy; Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan; Mirek Topolanek, President of the European Council;Professor Mario Draghi, chairman of the Financial Stability Forum; Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank
Middle from left: Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia; Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain; Dr Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kgalema Motlanthe, President of South Africa; Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India; Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Meles Zenawi, chair of Nepad and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Front from left: Lee Myung-bak, President of Korea; Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France; King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud GCB GCMG, of Saudi Arabia; Hu Jintao, President of China; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II; Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; General TNI (Ret) Dr H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico; Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina; Dmitry A Medvedev, President of Russia.
Michelle Obama breaks royal protocol by giving the Queen a hug
michelle obama and queen
Harmless gesture? Michelle Obama with her hand on the Queen's back as they met at Buckingham Palace
America's First Lady Michelle Obama broke royal protocol during a reception at Buckingham Palace when she placed her arm around the Queen.
But rather than take offence, Her Majesty took the unusual step of returning the gesture by putting her arm round Mrs Obama's waist - almost as if to confirm the special relationship the politicians are so keen to play up.
The extraordinary scenes took place yesterday as Barack Obama made his first visit to Britain as U.S. President.
According to eyewitnesses, the exchange occurred as the Queen was waiting in the Throne Room following the official group picture with the national leaders here for the G20 Summit.
One said: 'There was a bit of a bottleneck as all of the leaders filed out so the Queen started chatting to Michelle Obama. She appeared to look up at her and make a comment about how tall she was.
'As she did, she put her arm around Mrs Obama and rested her gloved hand on the small of her back.'
Almost simultaneously, Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen's shoulders rather more firmly.
'The pair then looked at their feet and appeared to be discussing their shoes.
'The Queen then dropped her arm and, a few seconds later, Michelle did the same. The entire exchange lasted around eight to ten seconds but was absolutely extraordinary.'
No-one - including the ladies-in-waiting standing nearby - could believe their eyes. In 57 years, the Queen has never been seen to make that kind of gesture and it is certainly against all protocol to touch her.
'But she didn't seem to mind a bit and was smiling and joking throughout,' the eyewitness said.
Break from protocol: Michelle Obama puts her arm around the Queen, who reciprocates, as the pair chatted after a group picture of the G20 leaders was taken
Mrs Obama, who is nearly as tall as her 6ft 1in husband, towered over the Queen, a diminutive figure in pink, as they chatted. However, on his first meeting with the Queen, Barack Obama made it clear that it was he who looked up to her.
On friendly terms: The Queen pulls her arm away after a few seconds and Mrs Obama quickly followed suit
Michelle Obama and the Queen clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together.
Normally, it is forbidden under royal protocol to touch the Queen.
Perhaps the Queen's warmth towards Mrs Obama was down to the gift of an engraved iPod that the First Lady presented to Her Majesty. Whether there was any music on the device is open to speculation, but the iPod did contain video footage of the Queen's 2007 visit to America.
It is thought the Queen already owns an MP3 player on which she listens to downloads of the Proms.
The First Families of England and America posed for photographs before enjoying a 20-minute chat over tea
Yesterday's pow-wow at Buckingham Palace was also a break with tradition because visiting heads of state usually meet the monarch only if they are on a state visit.
Mrs Obama, 45, wore a black satin coat, with the same double string of white pearls she had worn for breakfast at Downing Street.
Michelle Obama shakes hands with the Queen as they arrive at the Palace
She looked slightly overawed at first but quickly put on a dazzling smile as her husband formally introduced her to Lady-in-Waiting Lady Airlie, who took them upstairs to the private apartments.
The Queen, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, had already held 'audiences' earlier in the day with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada.
First meeting: President Obama and his First Lady Michelle talk with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
Her introduction to Mr Obama was classed as a 'meeting' as he is a fellow head of state and therefore of equal standing.
By royal standards it was a rather informal 'getting to know you' session with no aides present - however, Mrs Obama did curtsey.
-------------
Just thought it was cute.
oh here`s the G20;
Who's who
Back from left: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation; Abhisit Vejjajiva, chair of Asean and Prime Minister of Thailand; Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy; Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan; Mirek Topolanek, President of the European Council;Professor Mario Draghi, chairman of the Financial Stability Forum; Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank
Middle from left: Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia; Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada; Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain; Dr Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Kgalema Motlanthe, President of South Africa; Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India; Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Meles Zenawi, chair of Nepad and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Front from left: Lee Myung-bak, President of Korea; Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France; King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud GCB GCMG, of Saudi Arabia; Hu Jintao, President of China; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II; Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; General TNI (Ret) Dr H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico; Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina; Dmitry A Medvedev, President of Russia.
