Video: Queen Elizabeth, Michelle Obama Hug
April 2, 2009 by Maricar Macalincag
Was it a breach of protocol or not?
Such is the question that was tossed around right after the meeting between the Obamas and the British royals.
Royal protocol traditionally dictates that Queen Elizabeth is not to be touched, beyond a polite handshake. As you’ll see in this video, The Queen and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama shared more than a handshake.
It’s not shown in this footage, but some reports say that The Queen touched Ms. Obama first, and that makes the hug acceptable. We can see, though that the Queen was the first to step away.
Whoever touched who first, Buckingham Palace has released a statement saying that there was no breach of protocol, because it was a “mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between the Queen and Michelle Obama” during an informal occasion.
Michelle Obama made a cold calculated move. She and The One were well briefed on the protocol on meeting The Queen.
More than a little embarrassed. Gormless graceless unlearned. Please we can do better. Every Commonwealth citizen is in shock, and as much as we may appreciate, they are some things we should not be let loose without knowning. Next time leave well at home.
Daniel and Angeline, the familiarity displayed in the video definitely surprised me. I got the sense that Queen Elizabeth let down her reserve for a moment (I think she genuinely likes Ms. Obama), but then recovered it quickly. That’s when she stepped away, realizing that it was a public event, and quite unusual for her to be so close to someone outside of her family.
As a British subject and a dedicated Royalist, I found this slip in protocol both charming and way overdue.
It is amazing how many walls crumble with the touch of a hand and a genuine embrace.
We have lost many opportunities to develope a closer relationship with other world leaders.
I am not endorsing mass group hugs worldwide, but, can anyone tell me what is wrong with acknowledging a genuine connection in public.
Kudos to the First Lady, she is an admirable ambassador for the USA.
My Brother was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty and found her to be genuinely delightful.
I would venture to say she rather enjoyed a hug.
This display of affection was really cute. Queen Elizabeth has done other things that were not in the Protocol and we just can admired her. Remember when she appears on TV to console her subjects after Lady Diana death. She is an old woman with a lot of wisdom She knows that a hug, coming from the First Lady, the wife of the most powerful men in the world, would not harm anybody. We should be open to the 21rst Century. More things, good things, will happen.