Posted on 05/28/2009 9:12:50 AM PDT by reaganaut1
Queen Elizabeth is not amused.
Indeed, she is decidedly displeased, angry even, that she was not invited to join President Obama and France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, next week at commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, according to reports published in Britain’s mass-circulation tabloid newspapers on Wednesday. Pointedly, Buckingham Palace did not deny the reports.
The queen, who is 83, is the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England.
While serving, she met the supreme Allied commander for the D-Day landings, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and developed a fondness for him, according to several biographies. This prompted Queen Elizabeth, who was crowned in June 1953, to say in later years that he was the American president with whom she felt most at ease.
But on June 6, when Mr. Obama and Mr. Sarkozy attend commemorations at the iconic locations associated with the American D-Day assault — Utah Beach, the town of Ste.-Mère-Église, where the first United States paratroopers landed, and the American war cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer — the highest-ranking British representative will be Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His main role will be at ceremonies at the town of Arromanches, near the beaches where British troops landed.
How the queen came to be excluded has become entangled in a thicket of diplomatic missteps, or misunderstandings, depending on whether the account is given in London or Paris.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Bingo. The State Department didn’t, as usual in this admin., do their homework. Even though it is a French planned event, the U.S. State dep’t would normally correct a huge gaffe like this. Of course, all this bunch cares about is “the one.
Okay, let's blame my stupid question on the early hour. All the other Commonwealth countries are independent of Great Britain, right? I mean, they all have their own governments and the Queen is just a titular head? Is that right? (this question has always bugged me!)
Actually, from the article (hey, who was that guy who took pride in never reading the article?):
“The queen, who is 83, is the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England.
While serving, she met the supreme Allied commander for the D-Day landings, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and developed a fondness for him, according to several biographies. This prompted Queen Elizabeth, who was crowned in June 1953, to say in later years that he was the American president with whom she felt most at ease.”
(putting on my snotty British accent) Actually, when one is speaking of “the Queen Mum”, one is speaking of Elizabeth’s mother, whose name was Mary I believe. She is, in fact, dead. At present, there is no Queen Mum, as that title (which I also believe Mary made up upon Elizabeth’s coronation) goes to the mother of the sitting Queen. Got that?
And then, cos I can’t use my snotty British accent without a nod to Dr. Who: “Brilliant!”!
The only red-headed male I was ever attracted to was the actor, Eric Stoltz./Just Asking - seoul62......
This thread is, rightly, generous in its praise of the Queen’s role, but I see no mention of the full participation of the British Army in the D-Day landings.
HA!!!
Now blu, is there any other kind? LOL
"Actually, when one is speaking of 'the Queen Mum', one is speaking of Elizabeth’s mother, whose name was Mary I believe. She is, in fact, dead."
Had OB explained it as you have, I'd have learned something.
Somehow thought if any matriarch on the thrown was called, "Queen Mum".
Just an uncouth dumb Yank, but *feisty*. :^)
Thanks, blu. ;^)
"At present, there is no Queen Mum, as that title (which I also believe Mary made up upon Elizabeth’s coronation) goes to the mother of the sitting Queen. Got that?"
Gottit, I understand.
I *think*. :o)
No matter, the term's been totally deleted from my organic hard drive forevermore, now.
"And then, cos I can’t use my snotty British accent without a nod to Dr. Who: 'Brilliant!'!"
Well then by all means here, have a Jelly Baby. :^)
Let’s put the D-Day Landings in perspective:
On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops.
11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost.
In the airborne landings on both flanks of the beaches, 2395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day.
Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6939 vessels: 1213 naval combat ships, 4126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4988 from other Allied countries.
By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.
As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the armed forces and as civilians.
Source: http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm
I must chime in. This board is really full of idiots. Really, how do you and rest who are bitching about this obviously sarcastic remark read books? Do you by special editions which include little cues like “/s” after every sentence to tell you what the real intent was? It saddens me to read posters like your who have lost the ability to understand written intent. You are who the DUers laugh at.
"At present, there is no Queen Mum, as that title (which I also believe Mary made up upon Elizabeth’s coronation) goes to the mother of the sitting Queen. Got that?"Not quite. The title goes to the mother of the sitting Monarch, whether that person is King or Queen Regnant (as is the case of Elizabeth II). In fact the last Queen Mother was Elizabeth (Bowes-Lyon) who had been Queen Consort to George VI. Mary (of Teck) was Queen Consort to his father George V, and Queen Mother to George VI
Gottit, I understand. I *think*. :o)OK. The situation will become complicated if Camilla formally becomes Queen Consort, and Charles (who will probably be George VII then) predeceases her. She would be Queen Dowager, but not Queen Mother.
Had OB explained it as you have, I'd have learned something.Well we feel that if republics understood how monarchy worked they'd all want one, so we intentionally make it confusing.
“The queen, who is 83, is the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England.
Nice article from the New York Times but the King of England only sent his daughter into uniform just shortly before the German surrender (she was commissioned in March, just weeks before the formal surrender of May 8th.) according to the 'Women and War - Imperial War Museum'.
She did not become a "mechanic" while attending the three week course and living at the same time in Windsor castle.
Here is how the telegraph describes her military service.
"She was also, on her 16th birthday, appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. The regiment presented her with a Colonel's Colour as a birthday present.
She inspected the regiment, an experience she found "a bit mark frightening but not as bad as she expected". Thus began her lifelong association with the Grenadiers, which she is known to cherish.
The training battalion of the Grenadiers was stationed at Windsor Castle during the war as a close protection force and the young officers became the princesses' first escorts, whom they called their "flirts". They included Hugh Euston, the heir of the Duke of Grafton, whom George VI looked upon as a future husband for his eldest daughter, though he remained merely a good friend."
"She was enlisted as 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the ATS, [March, 1945] and sent to train as a transport officer at Camberley. The course was three weeks and Princess Elizabeth did not associate too closely with her fellow trainees.
She lunched in the officers' mess and slept the night at Windsor; 50 years later, her grandsons would eat cadet food, iron their own uniforms, polish their own boots and be shouted at on the drill square.
Despite her kid-glove treatment, Princess Elizabeth greatly appreciated her spell in the ATS, believing it gave her a confidence she had previously lacked.
The war in Europe was now drawing to a close and on May 8, 1945, the two princesses were allowed out of the Palace with their Guards officer friends to mingle with the crowds in the Mall and join in the shouts of "We want the King"
The entire WWII experience as a military member for Princess Elizabeth seems to have consisted of about 6 or 7 weeks when she lived in Windsor Castle, enlisted as a Lieutenant, attended a personalized 3 week course, had some photos taken of her touching trucks, never left the house, was promoted to Captain and was finished with the entire charade by the 6th or 7th week.
"Royalty"- they live differently than their "subjects", thank God I'm not one of those "subjects".
Some Commenwealth countries recognize the Queen as head of state — many don't.
Canada, lacking a revolution, has retained ties to the Queen. We went through a lengthy (and ongoing) evolution — for instance, until our Constitution was “patriated”, the final arbiter of some constitutional matters was the “Law Lords” in the British House of Lords.
The Queen is Canada's Head of State, while the Prime Minister is our Head of Government. Your President (who shall go unnamed) serves both roles. Our Governer General is the Queen's representative in Canada, and serves as Head of State in the absence of the Queen (which is most of the time).
The Queen (and GG) is a titular head; but with many reserve powers. (Even constitutional lawyers couldn't tell you exactly what those are.) She's also the symbol of the country — just as the flag is. We tend to place a lot less importance on the flag as a symbol, compared to you Americans — because the Queen, or GG serve that function too.
Of course, this is all changing — and the role of Royalty will probably take a big hit after our current (very popular) Queen passes.
If she had only registered to vote in one of the 57 US states, she would have been invited.
HA!!
But-but we Yanks most certainly *do* have a monarchy now, OB.
Where ya been, man? :o)
OK gotit, blu?
Thanks OB for the, uh-hum, clarification.
Oh and I *still* think the Brits ought have their own celebration. ;^)
Thanks for the most smashingly civil response (dang, can’t get the snotty Brit thing gone!) I’m glad I was able to help you learn...in my world, any day I can teach someone something is a good day!
Cheerio! :)
Oh, meig gott! We were having such a civil discussion (and thanks for the clarification on the whole Queen Mum stuff...I enjoy learning) and then you had to go and drag Mrs. Ed into the discussion! Scary thought...we'll just call her "Queen Dowdy".
Thanks for your explanation of the Queen and Canada. So she really is your Queen. Cool! (I know, I’m a Yank and tradition (here anyway) says we should not look toward the monarchy with favor, but I do anyway. Such cool houses! the jewels! the TRADITION! I like it!)
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