UK Mirror: Bush "goons" wreck Buckingham Palace lawn

UK's Sunday Mirror ^ | 11/23/2003

[jmcclain19]

GROUND FARCE 1 Nov 23 2003

Queen's fury as Bush goons wreck garden

Exclusive By Terry O'Hanlon

THE Queen is furious with President George W. Bush after his state visit caused thousands of pounds of damage to her gardens at Buckingham Palace.

Royal officials are now in touch with the Queen's insurers and Prime Minister Tony Blair to find out who will pick up the massive repair bill. Palace staff said they had never seen the Queen so angry as when she saw how her perfectly-mantained lawns had been churned up after being turned into helipads with three giant H landing markings for the Bush visit.

The rotors of the President's Marine Force One helicopter and two support Black Hawks damaged trees and shrubs that had survived since Queen Victoria's reign.

And Bush's army of clod-hopping security service men trampled more precious and exotic plants.

The Queen's own flock of flamingoes, which security staff insisted should be moved in case they flew into the helicopter rotors, are thought to be so traumatised after being taken to a "place of safety" that they might never return home.

The historic fabric of the Palace was also damaged as high-tech links were fitted for the US leader and his entourage during his three-day stay with the Queen.

The Palace's head gardener, Mark Lane, was reported to be in tears when he saw the scale of the damage.

"The Queen has every right to feel insulted at the way she has been treated by Bush," said a Palace insider.

"The repairs will cost tens of thousands of pounds but the damage to historic and rare plants will be immense. They are still taking an inventory.

"The lawns are used for royal garden parties and are beautifully kept. But 30,000 visitors did not do as much damage as the Americans did in three days.

"Their security people and support staff tramped all over the place and left an absolute mess. It is particularly sad because the Queen Mother loved to wander in the garden just as the Queen and Prince Charles do now.

"Some of the roses, flowers and shrubs damaged are thought to be rare varieties named after members of the Royal Family and planted by the Queen Mother and Queen.

"Other Royals had their own favourite parts of the garden as children and some of those areas have been damaged."

The Queen's insurers have told her she is covered for statues, garden furniture and plants she personally owns, but the bill for repairing damage to the lawns and the structure of the Palace will probably have to be picked up by the Government.

The Americans made alterations to accommodate specialised equipment. The mass of gadgetry meant the Royals couldn't get a decent TV picture during the visit.

[jmcclain19]

Whether this story has even the slightest bit of truth in it, expect it to make its way to the dank corners of the internet inhabited by the fiercest Bush haters.

[katnip]

It's a wonder we have anything left standing in America.

[MEG33]

The Mirror is left wing Bush hating rag.Go see what the Sun says!

[SW6906]

I'll believe this when I see pictures.

[SW6906]

...and maybe not even then

[martin_fierro]

Still a far cry from the piggish Clintons and their ilk.

[Consort]

Floragate.

[U S Army EOD]

To this article I can only think of one rational word to say which is "BULL S#^T".

[Torie]

The secret service goons just trapsed over the roses because they are what they are. It does seem like a bit much. The grand thing about English weather, is that it is so salubrious to plants, in part because the strains of plants have been bred in that particular climate now for about 300 years. That is why the most fabulous gardens are in those regions with a climate similar to southern England. Go visit Bouchart Gardens, in Victoria, British Columbia, and you will see.

[RandallFlagg]

Got a link?

[Torie]

I meant to add as the punch line, is that the plants (azaleas (imported from the Indian Himalayeas (sp)), rodedendruns and the like) will recover smartly, to the extent they suffered from the Bushes.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yeah, she looks REAL MAD here. /sarcasm

[dighton]

Just wait for Fisk in The Independent.

"Bush Thugs Massacre and Eat Royal Corgis"

[The Brush]

I'm outraged, OUTRAGED! This sort of thing would have never happened if we had a "President Al" in the White House. (Al Sharpton I mean)

[JohnnyZ]

The Americans made alterations to accommodate specialised equipment.

Newfangled inventions like touch-tone phones, perhaps?

England, finally being dragged into the 20th century . . .

yes, 20th

[Willie Green]

THE Queen is furious with President George W. Bush after his state visit caused thousands of pounds of damage to her gardens at Buckingham Palace.

Hey, no problemo, Lizzie.
Jorge will just give his buddy Vicente a call.
Fix it up in no time, half-price.
Give him a call mañana, work out the details.

[Brad’s Gramma]

And President Bush, NO MORE of this. I'm angry, can't you see???

[Bonaparte]

That's what you get for burning our capitol. Or did you guys think we forgot? You're lucky we left with the palace still standing. ;-)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Inference noted: "This wasn't anything like the "damage" caused by the "goons" that saved your asses from Hitler, we "uncultured" Americans presume. In the future, you will pardon we "uncultured" folks while we watch you piss your underpants the next time your neighbors come calling, eh?

[nwrep]

I don't care if the Secret Service people peed on the Queen's crown, as long as they got Dubya safely outta there.