The Queen Meets Barack and Michele
Meeting The Queen
The press coverage of the Obamas meeting the Queen described the ritual pretty accurately. The Queen has been doing this so long that no rehearsal is needed by Her Majesty.
She has some helpers that have covered the protocol with those being introduced with people from all over the world. It is easier for them when people who speak a variation of English are involved.
When preparing for a meeting, the Queen’s organization has some people that review the arrival schedule and the expectations of the Queen’s temperament when she shows up. These helpers are sharp personable people who know their job and put everyone at ease while covering the protocol involved. I am sure the Obama family gets a slightly different presentation than ordinary folks who are having a meeting.
When we met the Queen one of the preparation instructions for my wife was that she should bring a hat and wear it if the Queen decided to wear a hat. While waiting for the meeting the helpers came out to inform us that the Queen had decided to wear a hat. This required hair adjustments by my wife and two other ladies that were involved. About five minutes later the hat decision had changed and off came the hats with the needed hair adjustments. The hat decision changed a few more times and I thought the women were about to cause a scene if one more change was required. The ladies got the hair in order without hats and the Queen arrived in the meeting hall fully bedecked with a lovely broad brimmed hat . I’m happy that my wife kept her comments at a level that only I could hear. Our meeting involved two other couples and was witnessed by several hundred people in a balcony that overlooked our meeting area. All the hair adjustments with several hundred spectators was a bit trying for the ladies.
When we actually met, Her Majesty was very gracious after realizing that although “a colonial boy” with his colonial wife, we had paid attention to the instructions and although not bowing I gave a courteous nod. We even got to chat it up a bit and I got a broad smile with a chuckle over one of my remarks. She called Prince Philip(who was following as usual) to our little gathering and repeated my comment, which he seemed to enjoy. The crowd murmured noticeably over her attention to the Americans.
I went into the experience with more than a bit of skepticism over the significance of meeting The Queen. That feeling vanished quickly in the meeting. I am sure that the President , Michele, my wife and I shared the same feeling that we were meeting the very special living symbol of the long continuing British history in which America had a special place.
I’m also sure that Barack and I shared a thought which went something like—“I can’t believe that this (Philly-Chicago) guy is actually meeting the Queen.”
I’m glad I didn’t have to take on Obama’s job to have the meeting.
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