Obama’s royal gaffe

President Barack Obama arrived in Tokyo November 13, the first stop on his four-nation tour of Asia. He met with Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

With a deep bow and handshake, Obama greeted the Emperor. His gesture has been met with criticism. Obama should know the custom of a country like a professional businessman and behave accordingly.

Apparently improperly briefed about accepted procedure in Japan or perhaps having a time zone mind melt, Obama stuck out his hand for a shake. Which was fine. And friendly.

He then proceeded to simultaneously bow. Which was not.

And take his eyes off the person he’s greeting. Which was not.

And, worst in the eyes of many, the over-enthusiastic president of the United States bowed way down at a 45-degree angle, indicating in that culture and apparently in the eyes of many others, subservience to the emperor, son of the man who authorized the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. – LA Times

Prior to this incident, the President caused a stir during a visit to Saudi Arabia when he bowed deeply to the ground for King Abdullah.

After the Japanese visit, Obama will continue to Singapore, China and South Korea.

Good will to all men this season… or not

Labour candidate Peter White has been forced to apologize for calling the Queen a ”parasite” and ”vermin” on Facebook.

White, who is seeking election to Havering Borough Council in London next year, was summoned by officials after he compared the idea of a public holiday to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 with ”celebrating vermin”.

Apparently becoming a politician does not give this man pause in his choice of words.

Stephen Fry an oracle?

According to the Telegraph, Stephen Fry has come to be regarded as a “modern oracle” because of all of his updates to many followers on Twitter. But Stephen has put his foot in it.

The actor and longtime comedian has upset friends of the late Princess Margaret by accusing her of anti-Semitism. During a lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects, Fry claimed that the Queen’s sister had been shocked when he told her that he had Jewish ancestors. The princess then allegedly expressed her horror by shouting to everybody else at her table: “He’s a Jew. He’s a Jew.”

Lord Glenconner, who points out that Margaret’s chum Peter Sellers was Jewish, adds of Fry: “It’s a bit unfair of him to say these things when she cannot defend herself.”

Happy birthday, Prince Charles!

The Prince of Wales turned 61 on Saturday, November 14.

Even if you aren’t a history buff, the thought of the end of a generation is mind blowing.

I realized with breathtaking finality what it meant when I saw the Queen attending the service at Westminster Abbey to “mark the passing of the World War I generation”. The words alone are astounding.

This year, the three remaining veterans of WWI passed away: William Stone in January, and both Harry Patch and Henry Allingham in July. Allingham was the oldest Royal Navy Veteran, the last survivor of the battle of Jutland, and a founding member of the Royal Air Force.

The families of many of these WWI heroes attended the service. The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, laid a wreath on The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the event.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, known to the world as The Queen Mother, was born today in 1900.

Elizabeth was born to the aristocratic Strathmore family in Scotland. Her father was Lord Glamis, later 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

She lived an idyllic life in Glamis Castle and the Strathmores’ country house, St Paul’s Walden Bury. Elizabeth’s closest companion was her younger brother, David. They were the youngest children in the family – ninth and tenth respectively.

Elizabeth blossomed into a lovely, well-bred lady who caught the eye of King George V’s second son, the Duke of York. Albert, or Bertie, proposed to her several times before she accepted him. Little did Elizabeth know that with this marriage she would be making history.

Bertie was not meant to be king. That duty was supposed to be passed from his father to his elder brother, Edward. The Prince of Wales did not want the crown, however. He was madly in love with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward declared that she would be crowned with him, or he’d abdicate. He chose the latter, and many said that the decision saved Britain and the Royal Family.

Bertie and Elizabeth, once the Duke and Duchess of York with a simple life and two sweet little girls, now became King and Queen of Great Britain. Their daughters were now very much divided according to education and training – little Elizabeth would eventually be queen, so she was given maximum exposure to state documents and ceremonial minutiae. Margaret was allowed free reign and she received no education except for the study of social graces.

The King grew more and more ill as time went on. The stress of World War II and his constant smoking and drinking eventually took their toll, and he passed away in early 1952. Young Elizabeth was now Queen Elizabeth II and her mother was the Dowager Queen.

The elder Elizabeth viewed appearances as one of life’s top priorities. Instead of being a dowager queen, which sounded sad and dowdy to her ears, she re-styled herself as “Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother”. Those close to the family noted how she deftly inserted the title of Queen twice!

The Queen Mother lived until the age of 101. She was an active, lively lady who held considerable influence within the Royal Family up until the end.

She died in her sleep in March 2002 at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, with Queen Elizabeth II at her bedside. Princess Margaret had died just a few months before in February.

Seven years after her death, the Queen Mother was remembered by the public and the Royal Family at the unveiling of her statue. Placed next to the statue of King George VI, the Queen was sculpted wearing her Garter Robes, her age approximately 50. She now looks down the Mall at the Palace, keeping a watchful eye over all.

When I think of Belgium, I think of Tintin, the EU, and lots of arguing about who should speak what language.

The Belgian royals are a lovely family, but they are not usually on my radar. They are pretty quiet in comparison to their fellow royals.

In Britain, we see the young Prince William sending the media into a frenzy over whom he will marry; in Holland, the traditional ‘Queen’s Day’ ended in drama when a crazed man drove his car through the crowds; and in Sweden, the Crown Princess is about to set a record when she marries next year – the only Queen regnant to take a commoner husband and grant him the HRH title.

Lately, however, I’ve seen that the Belgian royals are full of character and crazy events. We don’t always get to see the funny, dramatic, or casual side to the lives of Royalty until that one crowning moment.

That moment came when Belgium’s dowager Queen Fabiola was threatened with death by an anonymous nut. They claimed that they would shoot to kill during Belgium’s National Day celebrations, the fatal blow to be delivered with a crossbow.

I don’t know about you, but I would take that threat very seriously. I’d consider attending said celebration with a bullet-proof vest and some chain mail. Under armor.

Not Queen Fabiola.

This feisty Queen Mum of België decided to dress in normal attire, with the typical royal chapeau and… an apple.

The surrounding members of her family were seen chuckling as Fabiola brandished the apple. She waved it to and fro, as if to say, Where are you, William Tell?

You might, at this juncture, expect a white-gloved thumb to the nose and a quiet “Neener neener”.

I think from now on, the monarchy of King Albert II will be watched closely by this royal blogger. They have surprises up their sleeves, they do.

RoyaltyNow! presents Prince Harry in NYC, the Belgian Royals, Prince Charles’ 40th anniversary, and more! Majesty Magazine Review for July 2009 – http://royaltynow.podcastpeople.com/posts/33626.

8th April 1970: Princess Margrethe

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