The Queen Mother's reputation is damaged forever now, no question. It's very unfair IMO as a lot of the British upper classes were sympathetic to the Nazis in the 1930's without having a clue about how evil they were.
The Queen Mother's reputation is damaged forever now, no question. It's very unfair IMO as a lot of the British upper classes were sympathetic to the Nazis in the 1930's without having a clue about how evil they were.
Also in 1933, weren't the Nazi only just forming then? I don't think the Heil salute came till much later.
I so agree ! I don't think it will do her harm as it is so below the belt the people will be revolted.Stepping back from all the specifics, I just feel particularly bad for the Queen with regard to all of this. I know she's accustomed to the media being difficult, but this just seems particularly below the belt. Just the gall of having something like this brought out in such a distorted way, and tying the Queen and her beloved mother to something so horrible, it must be upsetting. I mean, although I first saw the story last night, seeing all the headlines about it when I woke up this morning was just so disheartening. That said, most of the reaction I've seen online from ordinary people I know has very much had a "leave the Queen alone!" attitude.
I get the distinct feeling that all is not going to go well for The Sun. Publishing that video clip/pictures was perhaps the worst move any publication could have made and its going to come back and bite them in the butt. Not only legally but from what I've seen, there's been a massive outrage by the public for this blatant attack on HM and her family. The publishing of that media served absolutely no purpose whatsoever and I believe it was done in pure malice against The Queen and her family.
I'm hoping The Sun will have to close its doors permanently after this fiasco.
The NSDAP were active from the early 1920s and part of their (unfortunate) selling point was the salutes and the uniform with connotations of stability and order, as opposed to Weimar republic chaos. By early 1933 Hitler was Chancellor of Germany and had a fairly large amount of power.
(Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, it's a while since I studied this, and it's nearly my bedtime!)
Palace opens investigation as it accuses The Sun of 'exploiting’ the Queen and the memory of her family while considering legal action
Buckingham Palace is considering legal action over the leaking of film footage apparently showing the Queen and her mother performing a Nazi salute.
The Palace has also begun an inquiry into how the 17-second film clip ended up in the hands of The Sun newspaper and if there was “any criminality” *involved.
It will call in police if it finds any evidence the footage was stolen from the Royal Archives, housed at Windsor Castle, The Telegraph understands.
We are being told by some in the media that the publication of private footage taken at Birkhall – not Balmoral as claimed – of Edward, Prince of Wales (later the Duke of Windsor), with the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret is in the national interest, that it sets fascism and Nazism and the British reaction to it into historical context.
Well, I have seen all the footage – I suspect this was filmed by the Duke of York (later George VI) – and it was nothing more than a family in private larking about for the camera. What was most interesting to observe was the comfortable relations between the future Edward VIII, his sister-in-law and nieces, which alas did not survive the abdication of 1936.
Respected military historian James Holland told The Sun: 'They are all having a laugh, there are lots of smiles, so it's all a big joke.
'I don't think there was a child in Britain in the 1930s or 40s who has not performed a mock Nazi salute as a bit of a lark.
'It just shows the Royal Family are as human as the next man.'
As soon as I saw that photo I knew exactly what they were doing. They being the Queen Mother with hand raised & Prss Elizabeth. It is nothing whatever to do with saluting. Look at the legs. Arms swinging high and taking large steps as you do when stepping out a sort of exercise. NOTHING to do with saluting.
Honestly I hope the Sun get more than black eyes or mud pies for this nonsense.
Also in 1933, weren't the Nazi only just forming then? I don't think the Heil salute came till much later.
The Queen Mother's reputation is damaged forever now, no question. It's very unfair IMO as a lot of the British upper classes were sympathetic to the Nazis in the 1930's without having a clue about how evil they were.
As an aside, the left wing/ republican paper The Observer (sister Sunday paper of the Guardian) have stated strongly today that the BRF should release all the info on their pro nazi info (what???)