Protocol is abandoned as Michelle Obama cosies up to Queen

TimesOnline ^ | April 2, 2009 | Paula Dixon

[Kaslin]

The US President and his wife appeared very relaxed in the company of the Queen

Protocol seems to be dispensed with when the Obamas come to town.

Michelle Obama and the Queen slipped their arms around each other towards the end of a reception at Buckingham Palace held in honour of the G20 leaders and their wives.

The US President and his wife appeared very relaxed in the company of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh from the start.

By the end of the evening, the two women were standing side by side and appeared to be chatting about their height difference. As they moved closer and continued to chat, the Queen put her hand on the back of Mrs Obama, who did the same for a few moments. Before she departed, the Mrs Obama told the Queen: “I really enjoyed our meeting.”

It had been considered a breach of protocol to touch the Queen. When the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating put his arm around the Queen in 1992, he was branded the “Lizard of Oz”. When his successor, John Howard, was accused of doing the same, a spokesman insisted: “We firmly deny that there was any contact whatsoever.”

[dancusa]

Your only supposed to touch the Queen when you shake her hand. Michelle pulled an "Alice Frazier". This picture is from her 1991 visit to a DC neighborhood

Michelle has no class and sense of protocol. She is a Jackie No.

[txhurl]

Or a Jackie YO.

[dancusa]

LOLROTF!

[MHT]

She has got to stop wearing short skirts because she is bowed-legged. She walks bow-legged and it's not charming in any sense. She walks like she just got off the basketball court. It is a very masculine walk and it's bad. The short skirts make her look horsey--and would someone please buy this gal a dinner suit? I'm glad she's got great arms but sleeveless for every occasion in the middle of the winter is really inappropriate. A sweater will not do--the woman needs suits--

This is bad because she's making Hillary look like a fashion maven in those Chairman Mao pantsuits.

[txhurl]

Another thing that irks me: one wears pearl loops in odd numbers: 1 or 3. Can’t someone tell her that?

[Tex-Con-Man]

I knew no good would come of you learning photoshop...

[Ezekiel]

Michelle grabs the Queen of England but Bambi prostrates himself to a Muslim king:

US President Barack Obama, center, back to camera, greets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, center, before the official G20 leaders group photo with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at London's Buckingham Palace, Wednesday, April 1, 2009. (AP Photo/John Stillwell/pool)

[kalee]

That’s what I thought when I saw her on tv earlier this evening. She’s a moose!

[JillValentine]

Personally, I also think it’s a silly rule. However, all those people there were guests of the Queen, and common courtesy says that when you’re invited somewhere as a guest, you respect your host’s traditions and rules. (Should said traditions cross the line into barbarism - Saudi traditions, for example - that’s different). The Obamas think they don’t have to obey the rules. They think they’re Teh Special Ones who are above any and all rules, laws, and traditions. That’s why I’m so disgusted with them.

[Caipirabob]

Considering its size, it is going to be pretty hard to touch her anywhere else.

ROTFL!!!

[octobersky]

why is the Queen’s hand clenched instead of spread?

She should have crossed her index and second fingers instead. Would have made for a better picture.

[rlmorel]

"...Why does Lawrence Taylor have his arm around that lady in the pink dress...?"

[originalbuckeye]

Gosh. Michelle Mabelle is classless, graceless and clueless. I am soooo embarrassed by our country's President and his First B.

[rcrngroup]

Michelle 0bama is butt ass ugly, from the front or her the rear.

[Krodg]

She walks bow-legged and it's not charming in any sense.

She walks like she has a Tampax in sideways.

[phatus maximus]

because she’s being used as a pawn and knows it and is not comfortable with the wrap around grab...

[phatus maximus]

That may be the picture of the year, thanks for the laugh!!

[swheats]

She had to have screamed when she saw that picture. The rear is not her best side in black.

[PhiKapMom]

Did ZERO bend down to great the Saudi King? That I have never seen by an American President. I would think only a Muslim would do that or am I wrong?

[lonestar]

Damn Yankees!