Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh Current Events 17: January-May 2008

[Warren]

Welcome to part 18 of the thread to discuss the current events of the
Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Part 17 covering the period 30 July to 31 December 2007 can be found here.

� � �

[GillW]

Probably the last picture from 2007

New mum Sophie makes her first public appearance since the birth of baby James | the Daily Mail

[Russophile]

Oh good! I'm glad Sophie's doing well. Had a C-section myself with the first born at 22 and I can tell you it's no picnic!

[iceflower]

Queen attends CSPOC reception

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet invited guests at a
reception for the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers
of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at St James's Palace in central
London, 3 Jan 2008

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

[Royal Fan]

Its very nice that she meets these people who are of Marit to Kingdom and Commonwealth.

[Skydragon]

According to a tabloid source close to UK's The People, The Queen is showing signs of becoming a "Nintendo addict" after getting her aging hands on her grandson's newly gifted Wii.

PC World - God Save the Queen: She's Now Playing Wii

THIS 'STORY IS SOURCED FROM 'THE SUN', SO BEWARE.

[QueenMaharet]

I read that somewhere else too, and I thought it was awesome! It made me laugh to think of the Queen being an "addict"

[Avalon]

A very nice story about the Nintendo, I bet Prince William was surprised at his grandmother's interest!


Sergeant at Arms promotion for Queen's faithful servant

Queen Elizabeth's loyal footman and closest companion has been recognised for his services to Her Majesty with one of the country's most prestigious honours. Paul Whybrew, who's served the Queen for 32 years, has been made a Sergeant at Arms.

"The Queen loves Paul and wants him to stay with her for life," said a servant. "They are so close that she will often ask him into her living room to watch television with her if she is on her own, and they will spend hours chatting."

One of the Queen's most trusted advisors, the 49-year-old bachelor, who famously rescued the monarch from an intruder in her bedroom in 1982, was last year given a cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
His new title of Sergeant at Arms dates back to 12th century Medieval England, and the 6ft 4in footman - known affectionately to the Queen as Big Paul - becomes one of just three people holding the title in the UK.

[iowabelle]

Wonder if Paul Burrell is crying somewhere. Remember, he went into service at about the same time as "Big Paul", and Burrell was referred to as either little or small Paul.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

Wonder if Paul Burrell is crying somewhere. Remember, he went into service at about the same time as "Big Paul", and Burrell was referred to as either little or small Paul.

Indeed! But he chose his path to follow. . . .

[BeatrixFan]

Garter space with the sad death of Edmund Hillary. This means Blair's in.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Sir Edmund Hillary dies aged 88

[Polly]

Well, one can only hope not, Beatrix Fan. There are so many other distinguished men and women throughout the Commonwealth who might well be honoured before an erstwhile, controversial, British PM. Still, it's in Her Majesty's gift, and from all we've heard, she was responsive to Blair's much-vaunted charm. Whatever: she'll do what's in the best interests of her realm to do - always does!

[wbenson]

Originally Posted by Polly

Well, one can only hope not, Beatrix Fan. There are so many other distinguished men and women throughout the Commonwealth who might well be honoured before an erstwhile, controversial, British PM.

I think it would be far more controversial not to do it at this stage in her reign. So far, she's given either the Order of the Garter or Order of the Thistle to every one of her PM's (although not necessarily very soon; Edward Heath's didn't come for 17 years, but that may be because he stayed in the House of Commons), and not doing it would be seen as a criticism of his policies in many parts. Though she may wait for the next batch, I think it's an inevitability.

EDIT: Not Harold Macmillan, actually. She gave him the Order of Merit, though.

[andrew]

It would be a good joke from Her Majesty to give him the Order of Thistle, because he looooooves Scotland!

[BeatrixFan]

I just can't stomach the thought of Lady Blair. Eeek.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I just can't stomach the thought of Lady Blair. Eeek.

Maybe the queen thinks that as Mrs. Blair does not like to curtsey, she does not like to become part of this nobility system? So she may let the issue being unresolved till king Charles may decide that he does not want to see a Lord Blair reminiscensing of a "people's princess"...

[BeatrixFan]

Well I don't think Blair will ever get a peerage but if he gets the Garter that entitles Cherie to that 'Lady' thing and despite her crowing about equality etc, we all know that as a champagne socialist - she'd lap it up.

[wbenson]

I can see it now. "Lady Blair QC" in big letters by her offices.

[BeatrixFan]

And all this from a woman who bellowed the Red Flag at party conference in a vain effort to show herself as a revolutionary socialist.

[Thomas Parkman]

But, dear Beatrix Fan, isn't that what they all do. After all under the late saint Vladimir Illych the word comrade meant something quite different when addressed to him, now didn't it??? As for Cherie, she is positively revolting, but if the Queen in her wisdom does not grant the position to Mr. Blair ocupied by Sir Hilary for perfectly sound reasons other than his wife would you mind explaining to me, apart from the Iraq business, what they are. Over here in the US of A we really do not know much about Mr. Blair, other than he speaks excellent English, something our own much unbeloved President does not. Cheers.