Michelle Obama Touches The Queen Of England, Causing War

this is stupid.
we are not subjects of the queen. as such, we are not governed by the crown's protocol.

you are SO governed by it!! This is the QUEEN for God's sake! There are protocols for anyone who's introduced to her ... so stop whinging, Stolidog. This is how it goes in Britain. :-)

According to royal observers, the queen actually made the first move.

The queen did make the first move. And the Queen did not find anything wrong with it, they even issued a statement stating the fact. This is such a non issue for people who don't have a problem with the Obamas!
Post the pic with them embracing EACH OTHER!!!

OMG she did not "SHAME" America. she was just showing that she's friendly and open, and not so far above anyone that she becomes untouchable. pun intended.

Um, I didn't even vote for Obama and I think this is crazy! Violent protests over something as ridiculous as this? If the Queen didn't care, why should anyone else??? This wasn't a malicious gesture of insubordination, for heaven's sake! And furthermore, The Queen is just another human being. She's not God.

War? What kind of stupid headline is that?
It was a wonderful moment and historic. The Queen did not take offence, it was spontaneous and genuine. Your headline is irresponsible and inane!

T-Bone - there were not violent protests over the touching 'touching incident' and I shudder at the thought that anyone actually believes that. This is the most outrageous example of idiocy I have ever seen. Has anyone a brain? Are you not aware of the regular protests that surround the G20, G8 and every other Gdamn summit/meeting? The protests were against the powers that be who let the world fall into the worst economic crisis of our time - who writes this stuff?

wow, the Queen is amazing, she is like 80 years old and has such presence!

if you're interested in knowing the details, do a little sleuthing. read some of the british papers and you'll understand that this really is a nonissue for most, but fun to gossip and 'suppose' about -- which is, if you recall, the point of this site. :)

Um, the writer was being sarcastic about the gesture resulting in riots...**headdesks** Also, how tiny is Prince Philip? I knew the Queen was midgey but I didn't realize her consort was a lileputian too.

A HEM!!! This "non-issue" seems to be on the front page of just about every major news source. It IS a big deal and SOME people did protest that embrace, just as they did when the Australian Prime Minister did the same in 2000. There are strict rules against touching the Queen. Most of us here were simply saying it shouldn't be a big deal because the Queen is just another human leader (no better and no worse than our President).

While the queen did not take offense to what Michelle Obama did, it IS a big faux pas to touch the queen. And Queen Elizabeth is notorious for being a stickler for protocol. It doesn't matter that Michelle Obama is not a British national--she is a guest in Great Britain, and as the saying goes, when in Rome (or London, in this case)...

Michelle is also there to represent the United States in her official capacity as the first lady, not not as a private citizen and as such, is expected to follow diplomatic rules. What may be nothing to us Americans may be considered a big insult to others, and we should keep that in mind. This is why we are often called "ugly Americans" abroad--it's the lack of consideration for other people's customs that causes so much bad press.

Just be thankful, we all know what would have happened if she touched the Queen 500 years ago!

....I mean this guy was beheaded because he saw Queen Elizabeth I without makeup on!

The Queen made the first move. It is disrespectful not to respond in kind. Besides, the Queen has probably been waiting decades for someone to hug her.

T-Bone, it was actually 1992 that the Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, put his hand on the queens back and as such was named the 'Lizard of Oz'. I also agree, if you watch the footage the queen did make the first move. All the head lines I've read have been positive. One even read 'Michelle Obama wins of London - and gets a royal hug at the Palace'. And unbelievable, yes it was the 'G20 riots' not 'Michelle Obama hugs the Queen riots'. That would be a bit silly don't you think.

The Queen is the head of State, the monarch, so respect is required, particularly in her own palace in London when you are a foreign guest, a stranger and a visitor. Would you want any foreigner just cuddling your president when they feel like it or would you consider that disrespectful? That said Michelle Obama is nice, clever and charming and no one actually minds at all because she's been a huge hit here and you shouldn't undervalue her worth. That said, I don't think it'll go down well in Saudi Arabia and yes, if the President of France had done it we would not have been amused.

Kindness.

Grace.

Friendship.

These women got it right-bless them.

Maybe everyone else should take note...

stolidog says:

"this is stupid.
we are not subjects of the queen. as such, we are not governed by the crown's protocol."

If we follow your logic then illegal aliens can do what ever they want because their not citizen of the US.

How stupid can you be. But wait Michelle Obama can do no wrong because her and her husband are the saviors of the free world. They make me sick.

Two women met, felt a kinship, the Queen of England touched the American First Lady, and she responded in kind. Big Deal. I thought it was nice to see a touch of humanity from the Queen of England considering the stuffy mildewy old image the Monarchy in England has.By the way, Prince Philip has a reputation of being a terrible old racist and has put his foot in it more than once (eg. the "Paki' comment). Someone must have stuffed a sock in his gob this time round.
The Obama's visit was a success by all accounts and the riots in London didn't concern the touching incident.

Don't believe the hype. We're living in the 21st century..judging from more than a few of these comment..many are still living in the stone age. It's a new Day, A new light! Educated = Intelligence & Grace. Un-educated = ignorance &
ridicule. If she wasn't impress w/Michelle, I don't think that the embrace would have been reciprocated.
Royalty meeting Grace & intelligence..Chow!! Chow!!

I never have bought into the royalty crap. the so called queen is no different than any other human, and only worthy of the same (or maybe even less, depending on if she has earned any) respect. SOOOOO bfd on Michelle touching tob!!!

So, the same people who dismiss Europeans as socialists and couldn't care less what they think of us are not now up in arms that Michelle Obama may have violated protocol (Which she didn't) and how that might make us look to Europeans?

Just making sure I've got it straight.

jilly,
get over it. its no biggie.

who gives a f*** about the queen OR Michelle Obama?

No one seems to care that Michelle did this. If Sarah Palin did this all those defending Michelle would be bashing Sarah for the same thing. Also, it IS a big deal, it is HUGE deal and the fact that the majority of you think it isn't proves how unposed, uneducated and down right unworldly you are. It has nothing to do with the Queen having authority or not! It is a RESPECT issue, and since our First Lady didn't realize that ...it showes her lack of respect as well as that she seems to thinks rules do not apply to her or President Obama. All of you saying the Queen is "just" a human and doesn't deserve special treatment; the same applies for the president and his family you voted in, so stop worshiping them and demand standards for once! In all reality, the First Lady should not have even been with President Obama on the visist but she was however, so in that regard should have schooled herself, or at least been schooled, on how to present yourself and act around the Queen of England. I am laughing because I can't stand the Obama's anyway, but I am also humiliated for this nation. After reading the majority of posts on here, I am more embarassed as well as dumbstruck over the cast of dumpy and low thinkers as well as what mental midgets this nation is becoming! If you think this isn't a big deal, you have a lot of growing up to do mentally and a lot to learn about the world, self -respect and how NOT to act like ungroomed trash wherever you go! Just because it was an Obama that did it, does not make it acceptable. No one ever said the Queen was not a mere human, it is a matter of eqtiquette and regard for customs while a GUEST in another nations. Also, it is also a matter of knowledge and awarness. I thought that was one of the reasons Obama supporters love the Obama's ooooh sooo much, because they seemed so insightful, enlightened and informed about other nations! Like I keep saying, none of that was ever what mattered...you all just wanted a "hip and cool" guy in office that duped you with his smooth talking. What bafoons Americans have morhped into...geesh! I get more ashamed ss the days press on! I want to personally apologize to England for this!

Anyone who uses the cliche urban, "don't believe the hype" argument needs to take their own tired advice and stop actually believing the hype!

this is america we are not no fucken englishmen or whatever! why does it matter if she touched the queen? the queen isnt our prez! besides obama rocks and is a better world leader than the queen anyway. this is all just racial profiling that is all, if michele obama was white no one would have said shit about it! but becus she is a black women in the castle where the queen is or whatever everyoneis having a fit! everyone is equll anyway and no one is above anyone else we shuldnt have to bow and shit anymore that shit is over when bush left the white house office! all y'all just need to chill and smoke some weed same with the queen if she is all butt hurt over this

The Obama's can do whatever they want! They are the ones who are going to heal this world, bring peace, end poverty, create jobs, provide FREE healthcare, and finally make other nations STOP hating the U.S!!! So what she touched the queen who is just a figure anyway, she has no actual duties or authority! The queen should have came HERE to meet the Obama's and felt blessed that Michelle Obama wanted to touch her and hang out with her all day! We should be bowing to the Obama's NOT some outdated monarchy!

i aint bowing to no queen or king or anyone neither should Michelle or Barack! this is bullshit!

dreika, you are unworldly and uneducated. i can see if she actually lived in england, but she doesn't so how would she know. if the queen has no problem with it, why should you?

paul stanley or what do u call ur self,,u're sick now Bcos of the OBAMAS that means u will be a dead man soon,,COS THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT 4GOOD YRS TO RULE THE WORLD SO GET PREPARED TO REST IN HELL..AND SHEILA TUMB UP 4 U..WE DONT CARE ABOUT 5000 YRS PROTOCOLS

Nelson,

I think its obvious to anyone with a brain (perhaps you don't have one) can see through the Obama scam that has been heaved on the American people.

Obama was nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing during his whole campaign and now he is poised to devour everyone.

The rapture can't come soon enough.

England are still leaving in the dark age, they still strongly racial behaviors, thanks God for those english men who long ago came to this free world. We do not give a damn care about the english queen and their monarchy. The first lady did not do any harm and their queen didn't mind at all because she respect Michelle as they respected her, only those fool people who care about this nonsense.

once again-- this is a gossip website. While I understand the need to cover both elected and birthed leaders of select countries, the political venom on this post in laughable. I am sure FOX, CNN and MSNBC have forums for these types of arguements.

That being said, I live in Dublin and believe me, no one gave a flying *&%$. All anyone could talk about was how Michelle finally outdid the media's princess Carla Bruni.

So the Obamas can't respect the queen of Englands house with simple etiquette? Michelle couldn't have done a little research and fiquered out protocals? but wait, this is somebody who gives the queen an ipod..it is a slap in the face to England. The media spun as to avoid scandel and disruption.

but Barrack Obama has no problem literally bowing to the waist for king Abdula and putting his face in his croutch?

Wow our queen has a dirty mind if she thinks touching someones back means they want some.

Oh, what a load of crap. Etiquette in the UK (unless you live in a royal palace) is basically the same as in the US, nobody cared - not even the Queen. A few of you are really out of touch with British culture. The whole media thing has been made up by the US, your news crews obviously just assumed us "prude" Brits would be up in arms about that sort of thing; the most that was said over here was a jokey reference to it at the end of the news. All in all, the Obamas went down well and the Queen seemed to like them. The riots started the week before about the whole G8 thing, a few people were worried and hoping that it would die down before the Obamas arrived, we didn't want to leave a bad impression as being violent thugs or anything; luckily it was just about over by the time they arrived - it had nothing to do with the Obamas themselves.

However, as for: "this is america we are not no fucken englishmen or whatever! why does it matter if she touched the queen?", even if there WAS a problem with it then you need to remember that your laws and culture don't apply in the UK, ours do - that is a terribly ethnocentric view you have. On a similar note, it's technically impossible for the Queen to break the law inside the UK, she could take drugs or murder anyone she liked, but does that mean she can kill American people in the US if she visits Washington? - according to your logic she can, because "this is england she is not no fucken americamen or whatever!" Of course it doesn't mean that, your laws apply to her whilst in America, and it's the same vice versa here with the Obamas.

However, like I say, it was basically a non-event over here, no big deal. They are welcome back whenever they like.

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