Left Out of D-Day Events, Queen Elizabeth Is Fuming

[Beacool]

By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: May 27, 2009

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth is not amused.

Indeed, she is decidedly displeased, angry even, that she was not invited to join President Obama and France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, next week at commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, according to reports published in Britain’s mass-circulation tabloid newspapers on Wednesday. Pointedly, Buckingham Palace did not deny the reports.

The queen, who is 83, is the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England.

While serving, she met the supreme Allied commander for the D-Day landings, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and developed a fondness for him, according to several biographies. This prompted Queen Elizabeth, who was crowned in June 1953, to say in later years that he was the American president with whom she felt most at ease.

But on June 6, when Mr. Obama and Mr. Sarkozy attend commemorations at the iconic locations associated with the American D-Day assault — Utah Beach, the town of Ste.-Mère-Église, where the first United States paratroopers landed, and the American war cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer — the highest-ranking British representative will be Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His main role will be at ceremonies at the town of Arromanches, near the beaches where British troops landed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/europe/28queen.html?_r=1

[babylonsister]

1. I don't blame her. Seems kind of rude to me. I hope someone

invites her right quick.

[supernova]

2. Yep. Gotta agree with her

She should be there.

The only reason I could think they didn't invite her was her age/not feeling well? But she's still very spry. So. :shrug:

edit: Someone needs to clunk Gordon on the head. He should have found out and cleared that up for her.

[Beacool]

5. Yeah, someone screwed the pooch on this one.

The question is whether it was was the French or the British. Either way, she should have been invited.

:-(

[Fire1]

33. Ditto.

[Uzybone]

3. Why didn't Gordon Brown have her invited?

[FrenchieCat]

4. Zat would be Nicolas Sarkozy's responsibility based on protocol!

[Beacool]

9. I wonder why he didn't

It stands to reason that she should have been invited. Then again, Brown should have pointed out the slight when it could have been rectified.

[asphalt.jungle]

11. Of course it's Sarkozy's doing. The guy was wearing lifts when Obama met him in France

He'll do anything to keep the attention on him. If the Aueen is there it will be all about President Obama and the Queen.

As soon as Obama was out of 'boot in the ass' range, he started talking shit about him through "aides familiar with ..."

The guy is a tool.

[Aristus]

6. She looked cute in her uniform:

[Blue_Tires]

25. very cute!

[calico1]

7. Oh, this is not right. She should be there. n/t

[uppityperson]

8. A bit more from the article, I'd place the blame on Brown&co.

"The French have also said the Brown government was slow to accept that the ceremonies merited more than a modest British involvement, since British policy had been to give full-scale government backing only to commemorations at decade-long intervals."
(clip)
"The tabloids quoted anonymous palace officials as saying the Brown government dropped the ball, possibly because of reported strains between Mr. Brown and the queen. Among other issues, the queen is said to have cooled on Mr. Brown because of his habit of appearing late for their weekly audiences. The Daily Mail quoted one “senior palace official” as saying that the palace had made clear to the government that the queen would have liked to have gone to Normandy.

[Kaleva]

10. G. Brown better invite the Queen right quick

or his next gift from Obama might be a Sham-Wow towel.

[JuniperLea]

12. That's like Plant and Page not inviting John Paul Jones to jam...

I don't like this at all.

[Rebubula]

30. WOW

I would consider that even more egregious.

Damn...I wish that I were old enough to have been able to see Zepplin and Traffic when they were young

[JuniperLea]

32. My mom wouldn't let me when I had the chance at age 16...

Then my stupid boyfriend went with a pal of his, after FORBIDDING me to go with my sister! I was 19... and a stupid girl for letting that bully do that to me!

I never saw Zep... *sob* but I did see Plant on several solo tours. Not the same thing.

[Sherman A1]

13. A real screw up but

They still have time to fix it and have her there. I would bet that someone could come up with a little extra pomp & such to honor the Queen as the only head of state attending that actually served during the war.

[supernova]

14. #1 reason she should be there

'only head of state attending that actually served during the war"


Damn, she outlived them all.

Good on ya, Yer Majesty!

[JayMusgrove]

15. If she goes, she and Michelle can keep in touch!

Or is Michelle going?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. At least they should have had Prince Charles there?

was he?

[opihimoimoi]

17. Forget Charlie...he can stay with the ponies...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. he's next in line

his 'Mum' is getting old maybe she ddin't want to travel?

[opihimoimoi]

19. He be in a wheelchair by the time mum kicks the pail....give it Randy Andy

[Beacool]

21. Yep, if she follows her mother's footsteps.

The Queen Mother was over 100 when she passed away.

:7

[chaplainM]

20. Maybe there was concern that Prince Harry and Prince Philip

..would show up dressed in their matching Wehrmacht uniforms.

[rcrush]

22. lol

:toast:

[AspenRose]

23. HA!

:rofl:

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snowdays]

26. Shame on you for calling her a 'b***. Democrats do NOT need that.

[Beacool]

27. Hey, no need to call her that.

She's not my favorite person by far, but she's now just a little old lady.

:-(

[amandabeech]

28. Yes, and a little old lady who did her part for her country when it counted.

She really belongs there, and I hope that the ceremonies are jiggered around so that she can take a dignified role.

[Beacool]

29. I agree.

She and her sister too, let alone their parents, did their part for Britain. As the only world leader who is still alive from that era, she should have been invited. Crass oversight!!

:(

[amandabeech]

31. Yes, during WWII, the royals set an example of courage and hope.

They didn't even leave London when Buckingham Palace was bombed. That took guts, and was important not only for Britain but for her allies others working and hoping for the defeat of Nazi Germany.

[rasputin1952]

34. Sad really, this woman, as heir to the British Throne, donned the

uniform of her nation and served during one of the perilous times in that country.

As a Head of State, and particularly since she served, she should indeed stand with others as they commemorate that day.