The Governor General of Canada has 'breached protocol' during a visit to Queen Elizabeth by touching the royal.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Queen Elizabeth
David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada on Thursday admitted
breaking royal protocol by touching the arm of Queen Elizabeth during
an engagement in London, though he said the gesture was motivated by
gallantry.
NAN reports that David Johnston, who is the British queen’s
representative in Canada where she is head of state, joined the likes of
former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama in breaching unspoken rules of
behaviour when meeting the monarch.
He took Elizabeth by the elbow as she descended red-carpeted stairs
outside London’s Canada House following an event to celebrate 150 years
of Canadian independence.
“I’m certainly conscious of the protocol. I was just anxious to be sure that there was no stumbling on the steps.
“It’s a little bit awkward, that descent from Canada House to Trafalgar square and there was carpet that was a little slippy.
“So I thought perhaps it was appropriate to breach protocol just to be sure that there was no stumble,’’ Johnson told Canadian broadcaster CBC news.
David Johnston touching the Queen's arm
The royal family’s official website has stated that “there are
no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the Queen or a member of
the Royal Family” but suggests people might wish to observe “traditional
forms”.
“For men this is a neck bow from the head only whilst women do a
small curtsy, other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual
way,’’ the website said.
Report says the protocol is that no one should touch the monarch
and other foreign political figures have come under fire for doing so.
Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating was dubbed the
“Lizard of Oz” by the British press after he appeared to put his arm
around the queen’s shoulders in 1992.
In 2004, ex-French President Jacques Chirac was warned to keep his
“Hands Off!” by Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper after he appeared to
touch the monarch when she visited a Parisian market.
However, the queen seemed happy for Barack Obama’s wife to break
the protocol when she visited Buckingham Palace with the former U.S.
president in 2012.
They both put arms around each other in what was described as a friendly hug. (Reuters/NAN)
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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