Queen Hug

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Jiro

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Michelle Obama's warm touch with queen draws gasps

The story

First lady Michelle Obama was expected to make headlines in Europe with her style and flair as she accompanied her husband to the Group of 20 summit, but it was a simple gesture that has set off a media frenzy.

While meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in London on Wednesday, the two women briefly embraced -- not your typical scene at Buckingham Palace.

The British media called it everything from a breach of protocol to an extraordinary show of affection from the queen.
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(CNN) -- First lady Michelle Obama was expected to make headlines in Europe with her style and flair as she accompanied her husband to the Group of 20 summit, but it was a simple gesture that has set off a media frenzy.

While meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in London on Wednesday, the two women briefly embraced -- not your typical scene at Buckingham Palace.

The British media called it everything from a breach of protocol to an extraordinary show of affection from the queen.

The Times of London proclaimed it a "touching moment," and the palace apparently agreed.

"This was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between the queen and Michelle Obama," a palace spokeswoman said.

CNN's Carol Costello talked about the moment Thursday with Charles Mosley, author of "Blood Royal," on CNN's "American Morning."

CNN: According to our tabloids in the United States, the meeting went really well. What's your take?

Mosley: Absolutely. What is astounding is the picture of the queen with her arm around Michelle Obama and Michelle Obama's hand around the queen, too. But the queen made the first move. This is the most astounding thing because the queen is not known for being touchy-feely. Indeed, her son Prince Charles complained on one occasion that he wasn't given enough affection when he was a child. She's obviously a late developer.

CNN: What's the big deal [about touching the queen]?

Mosley: The big deal is that the queen is normally a sacred person. In monarchies, there's a sacredness that surrounds the sovereign, which is perhaps not known in republics, at least not all the time in the way that it is in a monarchy. She's been on the throne a very, very long time, and she is herself a very dignified person, all the more so because of her relatively short stature.

VideoWatch to see if "hugging" the queen broke protocol »

One of the things one saw yesterday was the way [President] Obama and Michelle towered over the queen and indeed Prince Philip.

CNN: By the queen putting her hand on the small of Michelle Obama's back, does that signal friendship? The queen said something to Michelle Obama toward the end of the meeting about keeping in touch.

Mosley: Certainly, keeping in touch is meant quite literally. Yes, it's a very significant gesture; she's not known for this kind of thing.

amFIX: Your thoughts on Michelle Obama and the queen

CNN: Let's talk about the other gesture: the gift of the iPod. Some tabloids are calling it the "i-Dud" in the sense that this wasn't a great present to give the queen. What do you think?

Mosley: Not a bad one at all. The queen is actually quite technologically advanced. She uses e-mail to a much greater extent than most members of the royal family and particularly much more than her son, who is a bit of a technophobe.

CNN: [The queen gave the president a silver-framed photograph of herself and her husband.] Was it a recent picture of the queen and Prince Philip at least?

Mosley: That I don't know. If it's the same as she gives everybody, it must be a sort of middle period picture because it would have to cover so many years. On the other hand, it may well be that this gesture of terrific friendship and affection for Michelle Obama was her way of saying, "Sorry, I should have given you something more personal."
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I think it is cool of Queen doing some embrace with Michelle Obama. :hug::grouphug:
 
I think it's wonderful and sweet, and I do not see how a hug from the Queen would break any kind of protocol at all...after all, the queen was the one to make the first move to hug Michelle Obama. I don't really see what the huge deal is about.

In Deaf culture, Deaf people like to hug a lot (at least we sure do down here!). So, I view hugs as a wonderful thing to do, a great way to spread some love.

And about the Ipod...I think that is wonderful. I do not understand why people think it's such a bad gift. It may seem unorthodox, but it's got music, and I am very sure the queen likes music. Pretty much everybody loves music. She's going to be able to keep the Ipod in her pocket and carry it around with her anywhere, and listen to it any time she wants, and it's quite convenient. I have a MP3 player, and I love it, because it's so small and I can carry it in my pocket, instead of the clunky Walkman CD player, too big to fit in my pocket. The MP3 player is just perfect for me, I can take it with me anywhere. And even if she doesn't know how to load music onto the Ipod or whatever, I am sure she has people who can do that for her whenever she needs them to do that for her. So, it's not like it's useless or whatever. I still do not see what the big deal is at all. People are just being so stupid and quick to criticize the Obamas for their kinds of gifts. I'm not going to expect the Obamas to be like the previous First Families. They have a path of their own and they seem to like to give modern gifts (techology-wise). I think it's great.
 
If everybody in the world would give each other hugs (with given permission of course) then maybe the world would be a friendlier place. I think hugs are very sweet gestures, it shows that you care about the people you know, and it would put smiles on more people's face. Hugs are nice and warm and makes people feel good.

:grouphug:
 
I think it was great. The media would find another thing to pick on if not that.

During the Reagan administration there was a big outrage on if Nancy Reagan would curtsey to the Queen, as people took the view it should not happen as subservient. There was quite a lot of controversy then.
 
and the Queen need a fashion consultant. Maybe Michelle Obama could give her a few tips.
 
I think it's quite telling that instead of the British media saying "Wow! That's something that the Queen has never done before" but rather all this talk about breaking protocol....

:)
 
It goes to show that the media has too much time on their hands. :lol:
 
I liken hugging the queen to hugging your grandma. It's sweet and and the folks in the media should really stop targeting people and go and hug their grandmas.
 
BradB08 said:
I liken hugging the queen to hugging your grandma. It's sweet and and the folks in the media should really stop targeting people and go and hug their grandmas.
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I agree. If everybody started hugging each other more, this world would be a bit of a nicer place to live in.
 
Byrdie714 said:
It goes to show that the media has too much time on their hands. :lol:
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:nono: You got it all wrong, Byrdie . . . the Brits have way too much time on their hands.

I see nothing wrong with the hug. We, the United States, aren't subjects to the Brits, never have and never will. We bow to no one or curtsy to them, either. I'd have a major problem with the president and his wife if they both did a little dance in front of that queen, as she's not the queen of this country.
 
Yes, it´s cool!!! Michelle is a reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
pek1 said:
:nono: You got it all wrong, Byrdie . . . the Brits have way too much time on their hands.

I see nothing wrong with the hug. We, the United States, aren't subjects to the Brits, never have and never will. We bow to no one or curtsy to them, either. I'd have a major problem with the president and his wife if they both did a little dance in front of that queen, as she's not the queen of this country.
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She may not be the Queen of our country but it is a matter of respect to her title.

Afterall--she has sat on her throne for the last 10 or 11 US Presidencies.....
 
There's somethin' wrong with the picture in there. :cool:
 
pek1 said:
:nono: You got it all wrong, Byrdie . . . the Brits have way too much time on their hands.

I see nothing wrong with the hug. We, the United States, aren't subjects to the Brits, never have and never will. We bow to no one or curtsy to them, either. I'd have a major problem with the president and his wife if they both did a little dance in front of that queen, as she's not the queen of this country.
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yes but they were in HER country so we must do our best to abide by their customs. just a matter of respect.
 
As much as what a hug will do, the world will never be "hug friendly". Keep in mind you live in a country that easily allows for hugs, in others, it can mean being put away. About the fuss over the queen, the free world is a dirt digging society for which I give a @#%!*$# about, there are more important things worthy of being thought over. There are hugs as personal as being close to petting, it's going to happen and get over it. Hell, I've seen women hug tight enough to bump themselves down there, it's their preference and no amount of whistle blowing will deter it except make you out to be an old fashioned hippocrite. I am fine with Michelle's and the queen's affectionate hugging.
 
each country have their own etiquette, social rules, norms, etc. Some MBAs schools are requiring students to pass social behaviors classes like which forks to use for this or that,
 
Byrdie714 said:
She may not be the Queen of our country but it is a matter of respect to her title.

Afterall--she has sat on her throne for the last 10 or 11 US Presidencies.....
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When she dies, God won't be curtsying to her.

If I went to England and I met her, I most definately would shake her hand or hug her. Why not? Not to is dumb and who does she think she is? She sits on the toilet the same way everyone else does, the difference is that someone wipes her butt, as she doesn't wipe her own.
 
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