Michelle Obama and the Queen

Posted on | April 4, 2009 |

One of the most heartwarming things to hit the press in the past few days has been the real affection shown between Michelle Obama and the Queen, who were pictured having a friendly hug.

To give context to this, a few years ago the Prime Minister of Australia gave the Queen a bit of a hug and a euro-kiss, and the furore was extraordinary.  One does not touch the reigning Monarch, stormed the press, unless it be a handshake, and even then one waits for the Monarch to extend the Royal hand first. Even in Australia the press gloried in what they called, ‘the tweak of the royal bra-strap’.?Times have changed, even in England, the realm of changeless tradition.

And perhaps something more has happened, something we should be profoundly grateful for. The person who is arguably the highest placed individual in old Europe, attached to the longest line of aristocrats who have any claim to power, just gave a heartfelt hug to someone who, a few months ago,  might have been seen as rather unimportant. These two people seem to like each other and even admire each other, widely different as their experiences have been.  A step towards real equality between nations and a move beyond color prejudices has just been very publicly taken.

Thank Goodness!

Comments