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.

Comedy actor and host Miranda Hart has described the Queen and her husband Prince Philip as “that Greek twit and his Kraut wife”.

Hart, along with fellow panelists on the popular show “Have I Got News For You” were talking about the latest gaffe by Prince Philip. At a dinner held in honor of Pratibha Patil’s state visit to Britain, many of the Indian president’s countrymen were in attendance. Philip greeted Indian businessman Atul Patel and said, “There’s a lot of your family here tonight!”

Miss Hart deadpanned: “There is no place for racism in the modern world and the sooner that Greek twit and his Kraut wife realize it, the better.”

Now the BBC is said to be in a “race row”. Again, apparently. I think people just need to relax.

I’m sure you all remember the “bouncy” redhead who was the “breath of fresh air” for the Royal Family. Well, she’s at it again.

Sarah Margaret Ferguson was deemed the perfect match for the Queen’s son, Prince Andrew, whom she married in 1986. Sarah was loved by the Queen and the other members of the family for her eagerness to ride, her enthusiasm for public engagements, and her bawdy jokes.

After a few years the laughter turned to embarrassed coughs and averted eyes. As HRH The Duchess of York, Sarah nabbed freebies, pulled rank, went on extensive holidays, and sent the bill to the Queen for the privilege of it all. She was soon branded the “Duchess of Do Little”, compared unfavorably to the hardworking Princess Anne and the stylish Diana.

A blatant extramarital fling that hit the front pages was the last straw. Sarah soon found herself at a dead end in the Royal family and she had no other recourse but to divorce the Duke. Sarah was banished from Balmoral and stripped of the HRH title, fleeing to America to escape the brutal British media.

Sarah eventually paid back her debts to the Queen in very unconventional ways: she became a spokeswoman, a product developer, and a co-author of various royal-themed books. Sarah earned so much money from endorsements and other ventures that she eventually wiped her debts completely clean.

After years of polishing her image, Sarah was invited back to Balmoral in August 2008. The weekend holiday was intended as a celebration of Princess Beatrice’s birthday. Fergie was finally back in the fold … or so it seemed.

Unfortunately, Sarah did not remain the low-key, responsible woman she was forced to become over those years. She fooled everyone, including the Queen, who is probably now kicking herself for thinking that people change.

The Duchess of York is a title dear to Her Majesty’s heart. Her beloved mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was the previous Duchess who became the nation’s symbolic backbone during World War II as Queen.

Her Majesty was once little Princess Elizabeth of York, and her sister was Margaret Rose of York. Her father, Prince Albert, referred to their happy little family as “Us Four”. The Queen spent her happiest pre-war days as a York Princess. How it must pain her to see the title squandered in such a manner by the greedy and publicity starved Sarah Ferguson.

I pray endlessly that the title, now portrayed as a symbol of farce and irresponsibility, will be freed from the grasp of this woman.

A Selection of Horrors:

Sarah launched an undercover campaign to highlight the horrific conditions in Turkish orphanages. By doing so, she broke the country’s strict privacy laws and dragged the Royal family into a highly sensitive issue with a foreign nation. While the documentary was a noble feat, she has caused considerable diplomatic tensions between the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Court papers show that Sarah is still not as good with money as previously thought: she owes thousands of pounds to an accountancy firm, a solicitor and a family-run photographic printing company.

Her documentary entitled The Duchess on the Estate has critics panning her for being “patronizing” and “Victorian” in her manner, using other people’s misery to slake her thirst for publicity and making the Manchester housing estate look worse than it is.

Now Sarah admits she might go on the TV shopping network QVC: “Tommy Hilfiger has a line of clothes he wants me to work with but so far the deal hasn’t been set,” she said toCindy Adams of the New York Post.

I bet you didn’t know it, but the United States is … a monarchy.

What!?

Don’t worry: this is familiar territory for us. We were a monarchy once before when King George III was king of the New England colonies. That is, up until the Revolutionary War. After the war, we threw off the shackles and forged a new identity as a free nation without titles or hereditary positions….

Read more…

The system of monarchy will never die, but some royals are treading dangerously close to extinction.

Without your title and dynasty, you’re Victoria Beckham and you rely on the pages of Hello! magazine for your publicity. Some royals, unfortunately, don’t seem to mind that eventuality.

Princes William and Harry and their cousin Princess Beatrice seem content to live a socialite’s life with scads of money, but want none of the responsibility that comes with being royal. Hence Beatrice’s casual request, “Just call me plain Beatrice” when referred to as Her Royal Highness. God forbid you’re associated with an institution or idea that puts country before self…
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Many people like to think they’re above the fantasy of royalty. Serious people dress in suits, work in an office in a capitol building, and they certainly don’t wear crowns! Hmph!

In truth,  fame, money, and the trappings of titles are things that people dream about. Some even make it a reality.

The American media loves the Kennedys and once proclaimed Jackie O. as their “Queen”. The former first lady even had frocks and hats made in the style of Her Majesty’s outfits.

Read more…

With both Crown Princess Victoria AND her sister Princess Madeleine getting engaged, the British (and American, and Canadian…) public are chomping at the bit for a Royal Wales Wedding.

You almost don’t want to think about it, because somehow you just know you’re going to end up disappointed. It’s like armageddon: people keep coming up with “concrete” dates of when it’s supposed to happen and what the signs were that helped them determine that date!

It’s maddening! What do you think? Will 2010 be the year? Will the Prince and Kate Middleton throw down with CP Victoria in the media for most watched wedding? Or will they stomp out Princess Madeleine in 2011? Will it just never happen? It’s your guess…