Queen Elizabeth II is currently the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch and has long been steeped in tradition. The royal family has numerous traditions that must be upheld, some simply because it has been followed for uncounted years and others because of the simple practicality behind the rules.
Some may find the added regulations dull and meaningless, but to not follow them would mean gross disrespect to the Queen. Understandably, to non-English, they may not even know the rules, even if the person in question would be American Presidents. Here are a few times that the Presidents of the United States “disrespected” Her Royal Majesty.
President Donald Trump
Current United States President Donald Trump is definitely not known to be the best at adhering to etiquette and sharing pleasantries. So unsurprisingly, he had shown some serious disrespect in his 2018 visit.
President Trump reportedly “[kept] her waiting for more than 10 minutes (which may not have been his fault), shook her hand instead of bowing, turned his back on her for a few seconds, and he left his jacket open and flapping and his too-long tie trailing.”
President Barack Obama
Former President Barack Obama unknowingly committed a social blunder in 2011 during a banquet at Buckingham Palace. As Obama was giving a toast in honor of the Queen, he raised his glass in toast mid-speech. The orchestra began playing the British National Anthem even as he spoke. Unknowingly, he still continued to speak even as “God Save The Queen” played in the background, until he noticed the Queen’s stare.
President George Bush
Ex-President George “Dubya” Bush let loose some stupid remarks to the Queen, inevitably causing an awkward situation. Upon meeting the Queen for the first time in 1991, he introduced himself as “the black sheep of his family,” proceeding to ask the Queen who the black sheep in the royal family was.
A few years later, he said in his welcoming remarks that she had “been on the throne since the 18th century” — adding a hundred years to her age. When he realized his mistake, he thought of the best move to make the situation even worse: he winked at her.
JFK & Jackie
Former President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie Kennedy, also allegedly let loose some disrespectful statements toward the Queen. According to a report, the ex-President expressed that he was “unimpressed by the palace furnishings and by the Queen’s dress and hairstyle.” His wife also had been reported to call the Queen “pretty heavy going.”
“I think the queen resented me,” said Jackie. “Philip was nice but nervous. One felt absolutely no relationship between them.”
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