Queen Elizabeth isn’t playing. She’s in the midst of her three-day state visit to France, centered around today’s D-Day 70th anniversary events in Normandy. I’m including photos from the past two days, where the Queen has made numerous costume changes. She arrived in Paris by train! And a Bentley picked her up. French President Francois Hollande is pulling out all the stops for the Queen – she’s the only world leader attending this year’s D-Day events who was actually alive during WWII. And Prince Phillip was actually in the Royal Navy at the time! He was in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese Surrender. For real. Here’s some other stuff happening:
As well as attending the D-Day 70th anniversary ceremony in Normandy on Friday, Queen Elizabeth will attend a state banquet at President Francois Hollande’s Elysee Palace on Friday evening and have Paris’s best-known flower market named after her. France is pulling out all the stops to emphasise she is the star guest on a list that includes the leaders of the United States, Russia, Germany and a host of other nations.
“All arrangements have been made to demonstrate that she is the super guest of honour among the 33 other world dignitaries,” Laurent Stefanini, the chief of protocol at the French presidency said.
Describing her as the “doyenne” of global leaders attending the anniversary, Stefanini said she would occupy the place of honour — seated at Hollande’s right — at all the events. The special treatment included seeking the monarch’s preferences for Friday’s banquet menu. “Very classic French” was the request relayed back.
After her arrival, the queen laid a wreath at France’s national monument to its war dead, the Arc de Triomphe, and then met Hollande at the Elysee palace for tea. Hollande presented her with a series of photographs from her earlier four state visits in frames made by Parisian luxury brand Hermes. She then went on to attend a garden party at which she was to bestow honours on several British and French nationals.
How nice. As I said yesterday, this might be the Queen’s last state visit. Or it might be her last state visit for the next year or two. She doesn’t like traveling so much these days, and she’s happy enough to let the whippersnappers take on the traveling duties. But I’m so pleased that she decided to come out for the D-Day events this year. She really has had such a remarkable life, and it’s wonderful to see Pres. Hollande go out of his way to honor her.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
She looks stunning! What an amazing life she has led.
God Bless the Queen!
+1!
I love the green one!
I love all the colours of the outfits. She really has excellent taste. She also understands that as a foreign dignitary, she has to be easy for people to see, hence the bright colours. But I agree, the green is a great colour.
I love her! I am so delighted too by the image of her seated w Philip, smiling at him!
She is wonderful, beyond words.
Yes. She still adores him. You can see the love.
She always seems to give him the biggest smile. Whatever people might think of the Queen she always looks so genuinely in love with her husband:)
I’ve noticed that QE2 has been smiling a lot, lately. The picture of her gazing happily at Philip is beautiful. I wonder if he’s one of those men with a great sense of humor who tickles her funny bone.
Santolina
Funny enough Philip has a reputation for being a crabby, sexist. Whatever they have together it’s strong. More than a sense of duty imo.
there is a cute picture of her giggling as she walks past him in dress uniform.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9zhtv2z1Y1ra5dnwo1_1280.jpg?.jpg
One wonders what he said as she walks past him that makes her giggle so.
Interesting, FLORC — maybe that’s what makes her laugh. LOL I’ve been reading about what they have together, including how they’re related. It’s pretty amazing…
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/rulers20thcentury/f/How-Are-Queen-Elizabeth-Ii-And-Prince-Philip-Related.htm
LOL, LAK!! I’m going to hazard a guess and say it involved his sword. 🙂
I love that picture LAK!
I rarely see shots of her where she breaks character like that.
Lak, surely that’s not Philip is it? He’s Lord High Admiral or First Sea Lord or something, anyway he’s the Navy capo. That’s an army guard, no? (Grenadiers?)- though I sure am not being picky with you, cos it makes your comment funnier still, as now I want to know what she’s thinking about the fine young man. And his sword.
The pic reminds me of my grandfather, who fought in WWI, who made us believe as kids that the entire British Army fought, throughout, in that dress uniform AND the astounding busbee headgear!
Chris: That’s definitely Philip, look at chin and nose. He is also wearing a sash and an order. Ton just about see the oders he wears on the other side of his mid section between the blue sash and red belt type sash.
He was in the navy, but he wears a grenadier’s uniform for Trooping the colour. i have to check his honorary regiments because that’s the only reason he would wear a non-naval uniform.
Here he is at Trooping the colour more recently. You can see his sash and order are the same.
http://www.contactmusic.com/pics/lf/news_trooping_the_colour_7_160612/prince-philip-duke-of-edinburgh-2012-trooping_3947007.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02250/queenget__2250347b.jpg
Spot on Lak, that’s very interesting to learn, and as you say, the sash was a giveaway indeed…. (if those about to comment had looked twice (mea culpa :)) !! )
+2!
I love that Liz and Phillip seem to totally dig each other …
Absolutely stunning. I want to know what is in her purse.
I was just thinking that!!!
A slutshank, a hankie and some hob nobs.
I want to think she has the typical “old lady/grandma” stuff in her purse-tissues in every pocket, hard candy, old receipts, etc.
Old Worther’s originals
A lady-like flask of gin.
That was the Queen Mum.
It makes me laugh to remember how sozzled the QM was as she made her public appearance in later life. no wonder she was always smiling.
I am sure I read that it’s spare tights, lipstick, handkerchief. Though when she’s out and about she’s usually accompanied by long-serving ladies in waiting, who you’d think would have the tights burden. I amuse myself (I know, I know) trying to spot one of these extremely ancient dames: she is 100% Keith Richards in a pastel hat and seems to be only partially alive, gawd love her, but she always pops up in press photos, so maybe she hasn’t fully passed over!
I don’t care what anyone thinks of the royal family, I just love, admire and respect the hell out of this woman!
And to think her uncle was supposed to be king and she would never get to the throne. Amazing woman.
She actually would have got to the throne eventually, since Edward VIII had no children. She would have become Queen in 1972 when he died. (Unless he married someone other than Wallis and DID have children.)
I think she is great too. Just gets better with age!
She really is a remarkable woman. She drove the Royal Family through scandals and problems like a pro. She oozes confidence and strength and I think no one will ever be good enough to take her place.
The island (Monkey Island) where the Japanese signed their surrender is literally a hop, skip, and a jump from Yokosuka Naval Base (2nd o is a long o and the u is silent: ya-kos-ka). Sadly, never went there while we were stationed at Yokosuka.
When I go back I want to visit Monkey Island and climb Fugi-san. And visit the Kamakura Buddha. Actually visit all of Kamakura — it’s a be beautiful city.
The Obama vs Putin half screen was really funny. Putin is determined to maintain a cold front going by the public face. It was so funny. Even the newsreaders were laughing at Putin.
That was hilarious. From the moment Obama walked past Putin’s was staring him out, then noticed the camera on him and was, Oh, um, what is going on over here, and um, over here. lol
I laughed at Putin too! “Ha ha Putin, you ol’ bareback monkey! We know the secrets in your pants, and the children minding you are already fully trained to ankle-shackle you!”
Although I will say, Obama was lucky my dad was not standing in the vet line because if he was Obama would have copped a clip around the ear and been told off for probably about an hour. He wouldn’t have cared if the world was watching, but he would have taken huge umbrage at him chewing gum. And if he continued to do it as he did the entire time he was there, my dad would have put his hands down his throat to have removed it. That was hugely disrespectful of anyone let alone a dignitary.
Agreed. Bad move. This isn’t an excuse, but isn’t Obama still fighting his cigarette addiction? That may be nicorette. Easier to pop in some gum than switch out your pads.
I don’t know about what kind of gum he was chewing, but surely even if he still smoked he would not have been able to at this time and would have had to have gone without. It was only a few hours he was there, if he needed a new patch, he could have put a fresh one on before he got out of his car. Chewing anything during this ceremony is as disrespectful as chewing during a funeral.
(Hello, new here)
Might Pres O have been concerned about (literally) drying up during a gulp-inducing speech? Cottonmouth fear maybe overrode decorum?
I also Just wished to join you all in a round of applause for the Queen, too. I think she’s a Very Good Thing.
Hi Chris, he didn’t make a speech at the international ceremony. Hollande did for about 20-30 minutes. Obama made his speech at the US event, not this one
Yikes, thnks for clarifying that, Madi! I watched clips on my phone, probably missed a lot.
Hi Chris, nice to eMeet you! Hang around . . . we’re a good group.
Chris
Welcome!
You have a point. Though he didn’t speak he may have a dry mouth issue. That would make complete sense if he did. Not only does the mouth get dry, but the mucus in your throat sticks when dry. Very uncomfortable.
Nah, I think it was still a tacky move, FLORC. You were right to start with. If he had dry mouth or somesuch thing that gum helped with, we’d see him chewing it all the time, and we don’t.
chewing gum is tacky. end of.
*takes gum out and sticks on bottom of desk*
Yep, tacky!!! 🙂
I’m literally addicted to chewing gum, but even I’d make it through a ceremony without it. Fail.
Still not an excuse, but we do see him chewing all the time Bluhare.
Here and there we see him swallowing something before speeches at more relaxed events. Not such speeches as public addresses. I think those are short enough for him and he sips water throughout.
Still, very wrong and tacky, but I easily get a dry throat and if that’s his case I empathize. Once it’s dry it’s terrible. I stick to cough drops though. Less noticable.
My mother gets that dry tickly throat thing and she swears by Fishermen’s Friend drops. Not for the faint of heart though; she breaks hers up and uses small bits. 🙂
Madi I am sure your dad wouldn’t have been pleased, but I doubt he would have said anything. The secret service would have pinned him to the floor before he laid a finger on the president.
One thing I’ve noticed living here is: French are in love with British Monarchy for real.
I don’t know why, but the year of the London Olimpic games I’ve seen tons of documentary dedicated to the Queen on tv. Not British monarchy in general or historical stuff, just THE QUEEN.
on one side we are proud to have made the revolution and have fought against the privileges because at the time there were too many, but another part of us that says it must be good to have someone as the queen steady unchanging; above the political parties that represented the country over the years especially since we live in a world where everything goes too fast and we spend our time to follow weddings baptisms etc … any monarchical country must mean some ca thing
What a great explanation!
She does kick ass xD She’s greatly admired it’s true. She had been through a lot, had a bit of a downfall during Diana’s death but the French do respect her a lot.
Funny, isn’t it. The UK definitely suffered from Diana fever at the time. Now we appreciate the Queen for exactly what she is, a strong, dedicated, hard-working woman who has put the country’s needs before everything else in her life. It’s also clear that Philip is her Albert.
It is interesting that she is the only one alive of the state leaders to have been alive during that time. I wish she would do a speech or something and tell is stuff like where she was, what she thought when she heard about the landing, etc. (If she has link me! I’m a history need I’d love it) she was what, 18 then? Wonder if she’s feeling her age.
According to the History Channel site: (I cut and pasted to make it read – in their exact words – but far more interesting order of context)
The queen remains the only female member of the royal family to have entered the armed forces and is the only living head of state who served in World War II.
She drove a truck during World War II.
Elizabeth—then an 18-year-old princess—joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. Known as Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, she donned a pair of coveralls and trained in London as a mechanic and military truck driver.
She learned how to take an engine apart and put it back together, then drove a truck through the middle of London and through the gates of Buckingham Palace to show her mum and dad she could. When the war ended she went into the crowd and celebrated with everyone else:)
Amazing.
I think some of the younger royals (and their SO) need to start taking a page from her book.
This-and I say this with total respect-is the One True Queen B. Take note, all you bad bitches out there-she’s the real deal. I wouldn’t cross her for anything. Rule on, Elizabeth.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark and King Harald of Norway were actually both alive. Haralds family was exiled to America where his parents actually became close to the president, so much so that he stood behind Roosevelt as he was sworn in for his 4th term. Margrethes grandfather was also known to ride his horse everyday through Copenhagen during its occupation without any security as an f-you to the Nazis.
I love all these anecdotes.
Me too! Love them.
I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our veterans, as well as those on active duty, for risking their lives for our countries.
70 years ago today, my grandfather was a rear gunner who’s crew destroyed 3 E-Boats. Her served with the 489 Royal New Zealand Squadron, 455 Royal Australian Squadron and finally, the 415 RCAF Torpedo Squadron.
One of my fondest stories (though I have many) is when he refused a direct order to destroy a small fishing vessel along one of the coastlines. He told his superior that his guns were jammed, and that he couldn’t make the shot. Coming from a small fishing community, he didn’t want to risk the possibility of taking down someone simply trying to provide for their family.
He also was able to meet the queen on two different occasions, and always stood by the belief that she was a fantastic lady.
THESE are the people we should be looking up to. The courageous, the selfless, the honorable men and women who give their all to protect out freedom. Whether you agree with wars in general or not, it takes a lot of guts to risk your life for others.
Lovely statement, Erinn!
Beautiful words, Erinn! Thank you 😀
Bless. Thank you for sharing Erinn!
Well said.They really were the “greatest generation.”
yes, erinn! and, your grandfather sounds like a mensch. 🙂
i am originally from poland, so d-day meant the beginning of the end of hell for my family (none of whom are alive anymore). those vets changed the world and made so much possible for so many of us.
He really was, Ag. He was the most honorable person I’ve ever met. He was the kind of person that would fight to the end for the underdog, and was as stubborn as a mule if he thought there was some kind of injustice happening. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be his opponent for anything. I can’t even begin to express how fantastic of a human being he was, and I know that there were so many selfless people just like him trying to make life better for anyone they could.
This is a bit more about his carreer, for those interested in that kind of thing:
http://www.inmemoriam.ca/view-announcement-320836-victor-eldridge.html
Erinn, thank you so much for sharing this! 🙂
No wonder you’re so proud of your granddad, Erinn. What a career he had. I got all misty reading it. I’d have left a condolence saying he’s world famous now if I could have!
Excellent post!
you are right it is to al honor people who have accomplished great deeds because we spend a lot of time to admire people who do not necessarily worth the trouble (me first)
Your story was very touching Erinn. My grandpa was also a WWII veteran and he told me stories about the war in Asia-Pacific when he was still alive. He was only 16 yrs old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. The Japanese army came to our shore not long after that and they brought war with them.
It never ceases to amaze me that most of the men who fought these battles were just barely out of their teens or in their early 20s! Many of them were just boys when they enlisted but the war made a man out of them. I salute their generation and I hope that my own generation (despite our tendencies to be vain and materialistic) will never forget what our grandparents have fought for.
My neighbor, Mr. C was only 20 when he got drafted into the war…..he got lucky because he was going to Michigan Tech for a civil engineering degree…so he went to officer school (bc he had been in ROTC in college), and then went back to college to finish his degree.
He told me that they finished the last two years of his degree, basically in a year. He said they studied from 7 am to 8pm on week days, 7 am to 2pm on saturday, and had sunday off. By the time he finished that, he had taken all of his required classes, and got his degree when he got back from the war.
It’s great that Mr. C told you his stories, Virgilia. They can get passed on through you now.
Thank you for posting, Erinn. I had relatives in WWII, in Germany. They dealt with atrocious things. Interestingly, one told me this when I was a child: “The war had to be fought. But the German people we met in small towns were real people, good people, like us and many were as appalled as we are by the war and atrocities we saw. I hope I can go back some day — they were kind to us, pleasant and normal, with cups of tea, whatever they had, after all that.”
Flash forward. I move to EU for work, living in Bavaria. choosing to commute from a village. One May Day I am sitting out with everyone at the party and the older men begin to tell stories. One includes the story of a kind US tank corps that came through after the war had just ended, searching for fleeing Nazis. The US gave the people food stuffs, were kind to the kids. One man speaking, the local retired schoolmaster, had been a 7 year old at the time and told how they gave him candy and a tiny toy plane. He added, they also gave us this, filled with food items, and I kept it.” He brings it out, an ammunition box. The ID on it matched my grandfather’s unit. I was speechless, numb, joyful all at once. My relative had been right here, on this ground, sitting by this pond, talking and eating too with the locals, for four days. Somehow, I’d closed the circle as he wished. I still think about it and shiver at life’s randomness.
Today, I think of them all, and salute your grandfather too.
Beautiful!
Amazing. The world can be a small place.
We’re in bavaria have you been?
Your post is wonderful, Erinn. Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story. Heroes like him saved our world. God Bless yourgrandfather and all who serve, or have served, for the greater good of mankind.
Erinn, you comment made me cry, in a good way. Thanks for sharing that!
Me too. Blessings to all, past and present, who fight for freedom and dignity. And to especially to all of the loved ones that we never had the privilege of meeting because of this war.
God bless them all and thank you. If u live in th uk bbc news covered todays events. The most touching thing ive ever seen on tv was the veterans being applauded and thanked as they passed through the streets – most of them in tears – it was heart-wrenching stuff. We shoud never forget what they did for us. And the queen is an incredible lady. The young royals coud learn so much from her grace, dignity and her unwavering service to our country. God bless her.
Thank you Erin for reminding us. My father was a barely licensed doctor that was landed as part of a mobile hospital at Normandy. To the day he died, he was unable to talk about it. Thank you for providing the words.
That’s lovely, Erinn. When my dad died two years ago, if there are any blessings that come from it, one is corresponding with his friend, Frank. I told my mom I’d take care of telling Frank dad had died and we’ve been corresponding ever since. He was in the US Air Force during WWII, a bombardier in a Lancaster bomber, and stationed in Norfolk. Does he ever have some tales to tell.
I’ve been sending him all the articles about D Day that I find in the Daily Mail, and he loves them. He’s a bit sad that here in the US it is not nearly the big deal as it is in Europe.
When I think about those men on the beaches of France, it makes me cry.
wow, bluhare, how beautiful that you’ve kept up that friendship and correspdonce in the memory of your father. I know it must mean so much to Frank. A very personal way you are saying “thank you” to him with every story. I agree, when I think of those soldiers on those beaches, my god. Bravery is too small a word. My heart goes out to each and every one of them.
I’ve been thinking of Erinn’s grandfather, and his decision to save that boat, all day . What a man – the kind whose hand you’d like to shake.
I would much rather read peoples stories about relatives that served in WW 2 than any celebrity gossip. Thank you for sharing.
Bluhare, your father sounds like an upstanding man.
The ceremonies made me extremely emotional, too. Can’t even snark about Putin.
Actually, one of Frank’s best stories involves a double date a friend of his set up with two women he strongly suspects were paid for their company that evening, in a black market supper club which had food you couldn’t get in Britain. It sounded like something out of a movie.
Lovely post, Erinn.
My dedications for this thread are my grandfather, who volunteered in 1939 and finally arrived home in 1946, my great uncle who was a Japanese POW, and my cousin’s greatgrandmother, who was killed in a hit on a telephone exchange during the Blitz.
And for Bernard Jordan, a Royal Navy veteran, who “ran away” from his nursing home and was found by police celebrating DDay70 – IN NORMANDY!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27735086
If I drank, I’d have raised a glass to Mr. Jones yesterday.
Jordan, Mr. Jordan!! (Can’t edit for some reason.)
Sixer: i was so cheered by Mr Jordan when i heard that story. well done him.
The DM has a nice follow up now Mr. Jordan’s home. What a character. I want to go with him next year!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650882/D-Day-veteran-89-reported-missing-care-home-staff-told-travel-France-Normandy-escaping-joining-friends.html
I’ll join you to wave at Mr Jordan as he sails off again next year!
Dear God, he was only a very young man in the Navy…last week I was immersed in a WWII crime novel whose main character loses two sons when HMS Hood was sunk by the Bismark. What bravery must those Navy lads have had, to keep on serving after that grotesque loss of life? Even more to their credit, one read that the inevitable sinking of the Bismark in turn, and its own terrible losses, drew quiet, respectful reactions from sailors, who had to sink it, but ackowledged the sacrifice being made by the enemy’s seamen too.
Too true Erinn, and though I’ve littered the thread with Queen-praising, those who made such sacrifices for us are in a different league of heroism entirely. Your words make a beautiful prayer of acknowledgment.
Thanks for sharing that…*blinking away tears*
i’m so very grateful to erinn and bluhare and sixer for sharing those personal anecdotes.
Stunning isn’t the first adjective that comes to mind, but she looks lovely as usual and very much herself.
I admire her work ethic. 80+ old and she is still doing her duties. Plus, she really looks lovely.
I like the picture of her smiling to Prince Philip, it made me smile.
That picture of her and Philip smiling & chatting is wonderful.
They’ve been married for 67 years I think, and they still look like partners in crime 🙂
Edit: Didn’t see your comment before I posted, Shelby!
I love that picture too! The Queen looks so beautiful, but then she always does. I especially love her pink ensemble.
It’s okay Amelia 🙂
I have no use for royalty, but I adore the Queen. She still has that twinkle in her eye. I would love to sit down & have tea with her – she must have so many amazing stories.
Yeah–I’m not so sure about royalty, but man–I love the Queen.
Same here. I luff her.
Where’ve you been Virgilia?
@Chrissy
Doing my best to study for exams….ugh. I hate this time of year…
good luck on your exams!! you’ll do well!!
Good luck from me, too!
Gossip with Her Majesty it’s one of my dream.
You know we would talk about Duchess racoon makeup, the Diana mess, and all we (peasants) don’t know about all British prime ministers….
Me too! Right there with ya! Especially about Diana….from their (honest) perspective 🙂
Do you think they still do the wild thing? I hope so
She is an amazing woman. It will truly be a sad day when she’s gone.
Both the Queen and Prince Phillip are veterans of WW2. He served in the Royal Navy and she was a truck driver/mechanic in the Army.
That green is GORGEOUS.
Yes. Apple green I think it is and it is giving me life.
I have a linen dress/cardigan combo in that color, and now I’ll think of her whenever I wear it. 🙂
Awww, this post reminds me of Mr. C! He’s always telling me how lucky he was that he didn’t have to go into combat–he went right to officer school, and then finished his degree, and then went to Italy.
Say what you want, but I think she looks great! Like a queen should look like.
Wonderful pictures of the Queen – I love all the outfits and really love the picture of the Queen and Prince Philip smiling.
I’m reading a biography of Prince Philip by Philip Eade right now – it has some fascinating information about Prince Philip’s activities in WWII. Also, there are a couple cool articles I read online this week about him as well:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130665/Duke-Edinburgh-gives-account-role-1941-naval-Battle-Cape-Matapan-sunk-Italian-cruisers.html
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/dec/28/monarchy.davidsmith
•Aeryn•
I read that bio too and loved it. Made me appreciate Philip all the more, ya know?
He is one person I would love to have at a dinner party, he is so politically incorrect. Everything that comes out of his mouth (and it is supposed to be in jest) has me rolling on the floor because no one else could possibly get away with what he says, but my reaction has always been, silly old duffer.
My dad has met him on a couple of occasions and talked socially (believe it or not in a pub) and he said he says stuff like this for a laugh. He even was saying things to my dad and his friends which could have been taken as an insult but they were all too busy laughing at him. My dad says he is a very funny man, but very nice and interesting.
Prince Phillip will forever remind me of my grandfather. They are so alike in many, many ways. Really a pair of out of touch codgers but some how you can’t help but love them. It really will be a sad day when we lose both the Prince and QE2. My grandfather was such an incredibly staunch royalist and unabashedly adoring of the Queen. He saw his service as service to her and was quite old fashioned in many ways. All of his older brothers served in the Canadian Forces…two in the Navy, 1 a medic, 2 Army; he even had two older sisters go over as nurses. Of course his elder sister he was closest to was killed in London in the Blitz but the rest of his siblings came home safe. He even made it as far as London himself having used one of his brother’s IDs doctored to hide his age in order to enlist-he was 14 at the time and he was found out and sent home. To his dying day he did not think it right that he served in Korea as he did not feel that war was about honour as much as WW2. His opinion.
We we very close due in part to the fact I share his lost sister’s birthday and was given her name as my middle name. It made me his favourite. My family have stories of him reading me the dispatches of Normandy and Dieppe [which one of his brothers was able to survive] as bedtime stories-he felt that it was all in tone so he would change up his voice/accent to show ‘characters’. Perhaps it’s part of why I know a little more about the war which has always interested me than any of my cousins who did not take the chance to listen to the stories our ’embarrassing racist grandpa’ had to share.
Anyway. We all owe that generation a debt of thanks. I think it’s a good time to get the stories they have for us about those years before they’re gone.
I agree with your grandfather about war. And agree we need their stories.
Me too for the Duke of Edinburgh Appreciation gang! He’s said himself that much of what gets him into hot water is genuine error, like the time he remarked that some hazy electrical wiring must have been done by ‘Indians’. Poor chap meant ‘cowboys’, but his brain misread the connection. Damned difficult to have off-the-cuff, witty repartee ready for every person you meet, he does a great job! Mind you, I think on the 2012 state visit to Ireland, Brenda told him to keep schtum as much as possible. Much goodwill was at stake. Off-message as ever, he had market traders in fits of laughter. Exceptionally, so did HMQ! Such a joy.
(btw, ‘Brenda’ is the nicknname given to HMQ in the 60s by the satirical mag Private Eye, after a tv ‘meet the ordinary royals’ attempt. Charles is still ‘Brian’, too)
I love listening to their war stories and their jokes, views etc and I always have even as a kid. I have always spent a lot of time with people of this generation because their stories are just amazing and their hearts are in the right place even if their mouths aren’t. I know so many vets whose humour is exactly like Prince Phillip and it is usually these men who have the most fascinating stories to tell.
Two of the funniest men I have ever met are my father in law (who passed 2 years ago) and one of the Dam Busters who was in Operation Chastise, both could give Phillip a run for their money in inappropriate jokes. To listen to my father in law you would have the impression that the war was a jolly affair which soldiers spent their entire time gambling, drinking and having sex with German prostitutes (I cannot retell these stories on the internet, in fact I was always too embarrassed to ask how you can pick up coins off a table just with your um, well) He would skip anything actually serious like being blown up in a tank and suffering phosphorus burns for the rest of his life. Yet even though he was wounded, as soon as he was able to return to his buddies, he did, and went home with everyone else.
Yeah I think the neatest story my grandfather had was about the man who he regularly drank with at the Legion and his service in the Spanish Civil War. Back in the late 70’s all the men who were close to this gent received official invitations for the vestigure [sp? whatever] of Sir Such and Such with His Highness King Juan Carlos himself coming to Canada in order to grant this man his honours. Turns out the quiet man they all knew as just another joe working stiff had run a mission during the Civil War to take a priest and a young boy across the border to safety-that child was Juan Carlos and when he came to power he hunted down the Canadian solider who had saved him. Thanks to a twist of fate my grandmother was unable to attend and my mother at 19 was my grandpa’s ‘date’ and got to dance with King Juan Carlos. She tells that story to EVERYONE.
everytime i see pictures of the young Philip … he was such a dashing young man… tall, handsome and a real teaser.
Harry takes after him, but Philip was hotter.
Phillip was offensive.
So was my dad, and I adored him.
That’s really great. I have no reason to adore the DOE. Respect for duty, always, but adulation? Not in the least. And those who chalk his BS quips up to humor or being from another generation are simply excusing the inexcusable ignorance of this man.
It’s the same thing, though. You don’t have to like Philip, but to make a blanket statement like that shuts any conversation down.
I don’t care for some of the things he has said either (and I don’t adore him!), just like I didn’t care for some of my dad’s views, but I can take them and separate them from the man. Which is what I choose to do with the DoE. I don’t care what you do, but that statement had been staring at me for a while and I had to say something.
We can disagree on it; fine with me.
All I see whenever I look at photographs of this woman is someone who’s unbelievably sheltered and poorly educated, and who genuinely believes she deserves all of the obscene luxuries she’s enjoyed. When she visited South Africa long ago in her youth, schoolchildren all over that country pooled their pocket money (read: were required to donate money) to buy her a collection of diamonds that had been mined there in South Africa. Is this racist idiot worth all the sacrifice? In a word, no.
•Numeria•
Have you *actually* read anything about the woman herself? She’s not perfect by any stretch, but that doesn’t mean she’s not an admirable woman.
She could do so much to help the people of Britain. We are living in a shambles here, I don’t have all night to get into it. Yet she does nothing. And we have to pay for her damn parties. WE have to pay for them.
The Q may be personally admirable, but I totally reject the monarchical project. The day they stop living off the public is the day I have some respect for them.
I admire the queen’s work ethic and sense of duty. What else is there besides being cute in her little Easter suits?
Ditto, and that’s about all there is to admire.
Those I strongly admire are the veterans who survived the wars – valiantly fighting, sacrificing and willing to lay down their lives for another human being. I know this observation may be unpopular but a part of the respect that the queen receives has a lot to do with the fact that some people automatically respect and honor their elders. And because the queen is dignified, hardworking and is so symbolic this feeling gets multiplied by a thousand. People will only gain perspective about the RF if the actively and independently seek it out.
To be fair, DS, a large part of the Queen’s role is to embody the civic virtues that we would like our country known for. She’s supposed to bring the country together. So, when we wax lyrical about her stoicism, steadfastness, service, loyalty, tact, etc, it’s because this is how we want to think of ourselves. Americans do it too, but in different ways – using the flag, the national anthem, the office of president, etc. Every country does it; every country has its totems designed to create and maintain a cohesive society. Every country gives these totems a degree of respect and deference that they probably wouldn’t deserve purely on their own merits without this function as totems.
You know, it’s odd. I am a British republican. I’d favour the end of the monarchy. But I always seem to end up as a devil’s advocate on Celebitchy!
Love the green dress!
I still say the worst thing to happen to the British Monarchy was that baby George wasn’t born a girl. He is completely adorable, but will people love the guys as much as they do the Queen?
Really? I think Diana’s tragic death tops the list of worst things to happen to the Royal Family in recent times.
Hi :
To be coldly utilitarian about that ghastly event, it did bring a silver lining, in that HMQ softened somewhat her public persona and this greatly affected the Firm’s popularity; and the heir to the throne was, over the ensuing years, enabled to become morefulfilled and easy in himself- all good for the duture of the monarchy.
OTOH all that ^^^ is purely unsentimental, strictly business, and no offense should be taken. Diana’s death was too high a price, may the ground lie lightly on her. Still though, her wish for a more human(e) royal family has borne fruit.
She’s never been fashionable (thank God) but my goodness the lady has style…
Never exactly Kate Moss-esque fashionista, but during her 40s HMQ was subtly trendy. In those days (1960s) I had little interest in the royals, my staunch Leftie parents being most disapproving of all monarchies, as was I until relatively recently. Anyway… It is BOGGLING now, to see pics of HMQ wearing psychedelic flares, as you can inagine. She looks just as groovy as my Ma did at the time!
Bet she works harder in these 3 days than the Two Idiots do all year.
It is to her credit that she is making this trip. It is one veteran honoring other veterans and their sacrifices. And thanks to the French for giving her all the honors.
She looks fabulous. I love the lime green.
Meanwhile, Will is letting us know that Kate isn’t wearing underpants again:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/06/article-2650417-1E891B2200000578-483_964x1091.jpg
There’s a film that is going to deal with the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret the night of VE Day. It’ll show them when the were able to go out anonymously amongst the crowds that night and celebrate amongst the regular citizenry. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2606089/Sarah-Gadon-Bel-Powley-royal-make-playing-young-Queen-Elizabeth-II-sister-Princess-Margaret-VE-Day-party-film-Girls-Night-Out.html
God save the Queen!
I had to take the oath in her name when I became a Canadian citizen. I am glad I did 🙂
Say that to the Supreme Court case of landed immigrants who want the Queen out of our citizenship oath
The Queen always looks perfect!! She was always a stunning lady, and still is today. Classy too.
I would dearly love to own one of her hats. They are always so fabulous.
There’s quite a few posters sharing stories of people and family that have served in the military.
I didn’t want to post a million times so here’s one for you all.
I’m all teary eyed ready them. I find it amazing and touching people make such a selfless act in awful times to help and protect the masses rather than just what they find most precious to themselves. Even for those who come back from service may not have sacrificed their lives, but it’s still a sacrifice.
I have such respect and thanks for all those who have served.
She looks stunning – Viva Regina!
As an American, I know I am not supposed to be a monarchist. But, when it’s Queen Elizabeth, Hail to the Queen.
QEII looks stunning in that green outfit. I have “hat envy”!
When my mum, age 87, gets her hair done, every Friday, she looks just like Queen Elizabeth. My Dad looked more like Sid Ceasar. Dad came to Canada from London, when they evacuated the schoolchildren from city due to the bombing.
One of my uncles was in the Canadian Armed Forces and landed in Normandy on D-Day. We loved the stories, although he didn’t talk about it much, they sure saw a lot when they were only very young men.
I love your story too! Thanks for sharing!!
Everything she wears is so beautiful, and so her. She’s stuck the the same classic style for years.
Don’t forget The Queen Mum lived to be 101! The Old Girl still looks fabulous, still has at least a decade to go.
It’s Charles that needs to go with that witchy wife of his. The Monarchy will never be the same after she passes..
Thank Heavens for HM, QEll
Hail Britannia!
The UK (and Commonwealth) really dodged a bullet when Edward VIII abdicated and diverted the monarchy towards Princess Elizabeth. The way the British crown has been worn by persons not born to inherit is a fascinating tale (ok, only to me?)
Just think: but for a simple twist of fate touching their lifelines, there’d have been (to begin, say, as the early modern period was around the corner) no Henry VIII; no Elizabeth/Gloriana: no Charles I/ Cromwell; no James II/ King Billy; no Hanoverian kings; no VIctoria.
Must say I’m a great admirer of Charles ( and indeed Camilla) and am not worried about his taking up the job when the time comes, but in this Queen there’s been a stunning convergence of personality and timing. Her steady reign has coincided with a post war period that turned Britain inside out, upside down, and facing in multiple directions; and a Commonwealth about to slim down as independence movements fought for self rule: while she seemed to reassure, through her own still voice of calm, that some ties and allegiances remain strong no matter what maelstrom’s raging round us.
She wasn’t born to be queen, but praise Ceiling Cat ( and Wallis Simpson) that she is.
(Jeez, time for my little red pills or what? 🙁 Pardon the screed.)
Chris, i’m fascinated too.
Looking as far back as 1066, we might have had a very different set of people ruling today due to the crown going sideways often either because of death or usurpation long before the Tudors came to power.
Right from the beginning, the line jumped sideways to person other than the expected one.
And it’s always interesting that the people who aren’t born to be heirs are much more memorable. ditto their rule.
I hope to one day read QEII’s published diary. She is a rock that I very much respect.
Today’s ceremonies have made me really miss my father (1920-1998). He was a terrific dad and human being and a WWII veteran of the US Army.
He was “Heavy Machine Gunner (605)” having served 2.5 years in the South Pacific arena including the battle for Guadalcanal. He was honorably discharged due to illness that included malaria, dysentery and jungle rot. The machine gun rendered him almost completely deaf in one ear. After returning home his health improved but not completely and he was eventually classified as permanently partially disabled.
Along with a lifetime of poor health, my dad suffered from lifelong recurring nightmares. His was always the same one about a Japanese soldier with a bayonet chasing him through the jungle.
QEII is of my parents’ generation that many refer to as The Greatest Generation which I think is a worthy description. Those men and women saved the world! Imagine a Europe run by Hitler and the Nazi party and much of the South Pacific ruled by a Japanese dictatorship.
🙁 Sad but beautiful story.
agree.
I cry at documentaries about WW1 & 2, thinking of the enormity of the loss of life and the horror those involved experienced and think “what a waste”. Then the reality of what may have eventuated if the Allies had not won. I am humbled.
The Queen is above criticism.
Anniversary remembrances like this really do focus the mind don’t they? Given the impossibilty of adequately picturing the experiences endured by the armed forces don’t you also find it equally impossible to conceive of the fears of civilians too, living through 5 years of terrifying visions of a possible, hellish, future, and the obliteration of all they held dear and good? Chr*st, I don’t know how I’d conduct myself at all, if I suddenly faced that abyss. It makes me quite ashamed, to tell the truth.
(apols to all for so many comments here, I’m away from home, stranded with only my iPhone and many hrs to fill)
An American here – I just LOVE this woman. I watch youtube documentaries on her all of the time. What a class act she is…..xoxoxo
Obama was chewing gum during the memorial ceremony? 🙁 I have to say one of my biggest pet peeves is when people chew gum around me. It isn’t necessary at all (unless it’s a nicotine gum which may have been what he was chewing but still he could have waited until after the ceremony!). I don’t know if it’s just me but I’ve noticed Americans love to chew gum (I’m American by the way!). I hate gum and I don’t like the texture and I have observed in other countries people don’t tend to chew it as much. I think it’s gross!
You guys are missing one of the biggest (literally) things about the Queen today. Look at the brooch she’s wearing on that green coat. The center stone is a freakin’ diamond. Look at the size of it!
Her Majesty smiles an authentic smile. Much of the time, she looks a little stern but when she smile, the sun shines bright. Much respect for this wonderful person. UK you are lucky to have her.
Oh — GREAT story in the Mirror about an 89 yr old D-Day vet who snuck away from his nursing home and went to Normandy!!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-d-day-veteran-bernard-jordan-3657136
That one is the best. Loved it. (And I sent it to dad’s friend, Frank!)
Hello again, what a smashing story. My late Ma was 17, in Oxfordshire, when D Day was being organised. She once said that there was an almost tangible sense of prayer and hope in the air, especially given rhe proximity of a major US airbase. So it was eerie to hear Pres Obama say almost the very same thing yesterday, speaking of prayers that could have deafened the heavens. Wow.
My mom (who is not yet late, thank goodness) lived through the war in Cheshire. Her dad ran a greengrocer, but they were subject to rationing like everyone else. When Britain entered the war and rationing started, her mother put a can of fruit cocktail and evaporated milk on a shelf in my mother’s room and said they’d eat that when the war was won. They did just that (they kept those two cans for FIVE YEARS) on VE Day, and put the cans in the rubbish. The neighbors, who had all thought they were cheating on rationing, gave them no end of grief because those two cans were proof they had cheated through the war. That’s how bad things were, and rationing didn’t end for a few years after the war either.
Some rationing-type stories from my family:
Everyone kept chickens for eggs. But my grandmother was terrified of birds, so theirs was the only family in the street with no chickens. She took in washing from her neighbours to swap for eggs.
By the end of the war, none of the cups/mugs in the house had handles left and enough plates had been broken so that dinner had to happen in sittings. You couldn’t buy new crockery: all industry was taken up with the war effort.
She wasn’t just ALIVE during the war, she also served(albeit near the end of the war itself). She was a mechanic I believe. So yeah, it’s fitting she is being given the higher honours where the world leaders are concerned.
I freely admit to not having read all of the already posted comments. I hope someone else has pointed out that as the only current head of state who actually SERVED in the military during WW2 it should be no surprise that she attended the Normandy events. As Princess Elizabeth she was in the Army and learned vehicle maintenance and drove lorries in the second half of world war 2.
Personification of REGAL
Indeed. What impresses us in any person whose position/ extravagant beauty/ boundless riches etc, makes their journey in life privileged from the start, is what they do with that gift. So many simply carry on as though that privilege equates to exemption from responsibility, while some respond by seeing great privilege brings a need for a balancing sense of service- in spite of not really being required to do a damn thing at all.
HMQ was always Team Duty. (Not so for every member of The Firm, tis true, but it hasn’t completely died out, and one or two do really try to make a difference, and I do so warm to that.)
Here endeth the Lesson :/
Beyond stunning.
I don’t think I’ve ever been touched by a post on this site before, but the pictures show a gorgeous, classy international leader with human warmth and a husband of years she still connects with . The comments are supportive and informative. Looking forward to reading the linked articles.
And no need to discuss weights in hems.
Technically she’s also the only “world leader” present who is also a Veteran of the Second World War. She served in the “Auxiliary Territorial Service” (female branch of British Army) starting in Feb 1945 and was trained as a truck driver/mechanic.
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//20/media-20543/large.jpg
http://37.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_max73wsNOk1qz4txfo1_1280.jpg