We all know the Queen has the patience of a
saint, the greatest difficulty for her must be not to show surprise or annoyance at other people’s odd behaviour.
She must have known by now that they do things differently on the other side of the pond. Take George Bush’s wink, he probably thought he was being friendly and putting our monarch at her ease; at the end of the day, it was no big deal really, the Americans simply do not share our sense of formality.
So it is not surprising that the Queen looks somewhat startled, perhaps even exasperated, in this portrait by America’s celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. The Queen lost her cool in front of a BBC documentary team and stormed out of a photo shoot after being told she would look better without the crown, less dressy.
This Fox News report describes how the Americans regard our monarchy, there is no deference or regard at all for her regal position:
The Queen of England can be a royal pain if you dare to challenge her to remove her crown.
At the grand age of 81, the Queen is allowed to have an odd Victor Meldrew moment, she is probably one of the most photographed women in the world and knows how to pose and respond to their different requirements..
I would have expected a professional photographer to make it plain in advance the type of pictures he or she was after. These were official 80th birthday shots and required a formal look as she was dressed in the garter robes. Who knows what else led up this outburst, if it was the final straw.
I’ve been to a few press events with members of the royal family and the general rule of thumb seems to be that you do not speak to them unless they speak to you first. I haven’t broken any royal rules yet, I wondered if you had. Are your sympathies with the Queen or should we sympathise with Annie in trying to get that one extra shot?
Update: It appears that the BBC has apologised to the Queen and admitted it sexed up the story. Can we ever believe them again? And is it a crown the Queen is wearing, or a tiara?
LOL! Good for her! I’m all in favour of a bit of ceremony. When the Queen came to open a new building in my Uni she came to talk about some of our research work. We were told we should call her “Ma’am” but I used “Your Majesty” (I understand these things, I have my own Kingdom, you know). She spent several minutes talking to me and my students, I felt it was a great honour.
[…] Wesley Clark Link to Article george w bush Have you upset any of the royals? » Posted at Ellee Seymour – MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. on Thursday, July 12, 2007 [ 1_61_071107_queen2] We all know the Queen has the patience of a[ BushDM0507_468x308] … of the pond. Take George Bush’s wink, he probably thought he was being friendly and putting our monarch View Entire Article » […]
Maalie, you could stand a good chance of getting an honour then.
I do think Annie is a great photographer but I can image how she works. She probably was not properly briefed either. I think the Queen was quite right; she probably spent hours getting ready and the crown is part of her formal dress. In this modern age where you see men walking round barechested in supermarkets or in the street, what do you expect?
I must say Elle, when it comes to ‘formality’ I am american in all things. Artificial structures only exist as long as people are willing to bow to artificial hierarchies and yow the line …
Mind you Bush expect americans (and Brits) to toe (and tow) the line too: “You are either with Us or against Us, is the holy mantra – the American Way”
I suppose it was rather bad mannered of me to shuffle from foot to foot when I met the Queen, but I was only seven and desperate to go to the toilet. She was in South Shields to open our world famous Marine and Technical College.
I guess my picture of the Queen today will not impress as much as Ms. Leibovitz’s.
Oh, Fox News is moronic… don’t listen to anything they say.
I wouldn’t dare wink at the Queen. I wonder why Bush did.
Good for the Queen in forcing the BBC to apologise.
What a storm in a teacup. No one seems to know what really went on now. Still it’s a change for the Queen to be seen in this light.
You should always address the Monarch as ‘Your Majesty’!
The Monarch does not exist to be some sort of photo opportunity. She is the guardian of our constitution and our civilisation. Brown is already treading on her toes a few weeks into office by reading the Queen’s speech.
New Labour are constitutional vandals, this photographer should be tarred and feathered!
What true Brit would ever ask the Queen to take her crown off for them. It stinks!
The BBC have acted disgracefully (nothing new there then…).
The Queen is still working her socks of at the age of 81 in a job she and her father never asked for. She is the most honourable person, and has rarely put a foot wrong. She deserves more respect from this photographer and the BBC.