Did the US First Lady violate British protocol recently?

pagea

Apparently so, she touched the queen (with a hug). Protocol says that you can only shake her hand. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090402/Obama_Queen_090402/20090402?hub=TopStories Apr 02 09, 2:15 PM

star_gazer

"Michelle Obama put her hand on the queen only after the queen had placed her own hand on the first lady's back as part of their conversation," Time's Howard Chua-Eoan writes. "So there is room for theological argument as to whether the American reciprocity of touch was allowable given the social dynamics of the situation." http://news.aol.com/article/michelle-obama-touches-queen/410276?icid=main|htmlws-main-t2|dl1|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fmichelle-obama-touches-queen%2F410276 Apr 02 09, 4:44 PM

zbeckabee

Further, (CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama did not breach protocol by touching Queen Elizabeth II at a reception for world leaders attending the G-20 summit, Buckingham Palace told CNN Thursday. "It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation between the Queen and Michelle Obama," the Royal Press Office said in a statement Thursday. "The London Summit reception at Buckingham Palace was an informal occasion," the statement also said. No breach of protocol occurred, according to the Royal Press Office, because Buckingham Palace does not issue instructions about how to address the Queen. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/02/buckingham-palace-weighs-in-on-first-ladys-touching-moment/ MSNBC reports: "She strode across the plush Buckingham Palace carpet to shake the queen’s hand with the kind of courteous informality that characterizes Americans. Unlike the British royals, they don’t do "stuffy." And they don’t curtsey much either." "The queen – accustomed to pomp and protocol at every step– seemed surprisingly at ease too. She took hold of Mrs. Obama’s hand firmly – not her usual end-of-fingertips, don’t-come-too-close handshake." "So I hid behind the sofa when I saw Mrs. Obama slide her arm around the queen yesterday." "But then the biggest surprise of all." "The queen returned the gesture, and placed her own arm gently on the first lady’s back." http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/02/1875277.aspx Apr 02 09, 6:10 PM