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.

[FRgal4u]

Hope we get some verification on this story. If proven true, it would be the most unfortunate event and the US should pay for the damages. I can see the big "H" marks on the lawn, why in the world they use the lawn as a helipad? Who is the one arranging the details there? We can't afford these kind of stories keep popping up, it just solidify the "ugly American" image over there. We need some clarifications here.

[MissAmericanPie]

ROFLOL

[MEG33]

Just google The Sun,London.I looked and there is no mention of the fury of the Queen....did see they may disband the Black Watch,Royal Scots and Gurkhas..troop reduction.. and Chirac is coming to London to mend fences.Mostly it's sports!

[Cultural Jihad]

A British consolate and bank leveled in a terror bomb, 28 killed and 450 injured, and we're supposed to think that the Queen is all teary over some rose bushes where she entertains.

[McGavin999]

I seriously, seriously doubt that this is true. Marine One lands on the Whitehouse lawn almost every day and doesn't damage a single thing.

[MEG33]

Outraged..and it shows!

[eabinga]

The website from the german news station n-tv, which is a CNN partner, also has this story on their front page.

[eno_]

No (or rather "Noh") that would be the North Koreans.

[explodingspleen]

How easy would it be for Al Qaeda agents to disguise themselves as flowers and hide in the foliage?

The secret service was just doing its job. I would have carpet bombed the whole garden and shot any suspicious looking dandelions for good measure.

[PoisedWoman]

"The Queen has every right to feel insulted at the way she has been treated by Bush," said Palace insiderFarwell Flitly, the Director of Doilies for the Royal Family. Heaving a big sigh and patting his bosom he went on, "I mean, Thweetie, you can't imagine those ruffians walking on the grath. If I hadn't had a ringside seat with a view of the rear, I would have sicced the Corgis on them."

[Torie]

Clearly, you should be kept at home. :)

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Yeah, I don't buy the rubbish in this "story" either.

[gatorbait]

To this article I can only think of one rational word to say which is "BULL S#^T".
Now, I recall,as do you, that the Secret Service is pretty unobtrusive in the main,I know we were always cautioned to not disturb anything if it could be avoided. .That square with your memories?

[U S Army EOD]

The same guy who wrote the article was probably bitching last week because the Queen was allowed to have a garden.

[metalboy]

It seems they`re writing this just to incite the mutts who protested over there even more. Maybe they should write a second article about 3000 people who died when two jet airliners crashed into two of our most beloved buildings, and the protesting English pricks who ignore that fact on a daily basis. Like my tag line says..........

[PeaceBeWithYou]

GROUND FARCE 1?

It's lefty Brittish humor.

[U S Army EOD]

Well I did stick a few pins in the furniture at the Waldorf.

[mylife]

I understand how the queen must feel...saturday night some sumbitch tossed a beercan on my lawn! Oh the humanity!

Seriously I dont doubt some damage was done, but nothing that cant be repaired.

What suks is this tabloid making it into a story of brutish americans.

[Ruth A.]

It sounds as though she had no idea that the helo pads were planned. For shame. </sarcasm>

[sully777]

From a descendant of a High King of Ireland to a descendant of a German baron pretending to be from England is this fanciful and loving note: (Sound of a large Irish gaseous release in the key of F)!

Sorry mum, didn't mean to ruin your gardens. Can you be a dear and light a match?