LONDON — Queen Elizabeth is not amused.
Indeed, she is decidedly displeased, angry even, that she was not invited to join President Obama and France’s president,Nicolas Sarkozy, next week at commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, according to reports published in Britain’s mass-circulation tabloid newspapers on Wednesday. Pointedly, Buckingham Palace did not deny the reports.
The queen, who is 83, is the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England.-------------------------
Matthew Hickley and Rebecca English Mail ONLINE MAY 27:
D-Day snub to Queen: Palace fury as Sarkozy refuses to invite royals to 65th Anniversary
Buckingham Palace voiced anger last night after the French snubbed the Queen over next week's D-Day commemorations. Aides said senior royals had repeatedly made clear their eagerness to support the historic 65th anniversary events in Normandy. But last night French officials crushed any remaining hopes, admitting they had never had any plans to invite members of the British Royal Family. They said President Nicolas Sarkozy was focused on the 'main event' of hosting U.S. President Barack Obama. There was also anger at the British Government for failing to secure a Royal invitation from their French counterparts. Protocol means they cannot simply invite themselves. The failure to invite the Queen - who is head of state of both Britain and Canada - will be seen as an insult to the memory of the 17,556 British and 5,316 Canadian troops who died to free France and are buried there.
No comments:
Post a Comment