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]

Queen & Sophie go to Church

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]

Pics 3.1.2008

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[BeatrixFan]

Well not quite Thomas. It basically hinges on the Labour divide that came in the 1980s and eventually led to New Labour. New Labourites accept honours and they do so with much condemnation from their Old Labour colleagues. Mrs Blair has always identified as Old Labour and for her, it would be quite wrong to start lording it with a Ladyship. Note, Neil Kinnock's wife Glenys doesn't use her Baroness title for that very reason - she doesn't agree with peerages but she's entitled as Neil's wife to use the title of Baroness/Lady. She doesn't because she feels it contradicts her Old Labour beliefs. If Cherie Blair was half the principled woman she claimed to be, she'd do the same but somehow I don't see her refusing to use the Ladyship. As to the Garter, Tony Blair was Prime Minister for 10 years. Now it's a very similar thing to Margaret Thatcher who is still reviled and adored in equal measure. She got the Garter because she was our first female PM, she was also PM for a very long time and like Tony Blair, during her premiership she did terrible things and amazing things. Let's also bear in mind that Tony Blair effectively saved the Queen's bacon over the Diana saga and so there is a certain amount of Royal debt there. If the Queen didn't give him the Garter now there's an opportunity to, it really would be seen as a snub. John Major and Edward Heath waited a long time for their Garters but they hadn't been PM for as long as Thatcher and Blair. I think when it comes to honours and former Prime Ministers, Thatcher is the benchmark. I imagine we'll see Blair getting the Garter this April and then possibly a peerage when he's a little older.

 

[Skydragon]

Queen Elizabeth II on Friday led Britain in tributes to Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest, as public figures and fellow adventurers hailed him as a hero and an inspiration.

Queen leads tributes to 'hero' Hillary, conqueror of Everest - Yahoo! News

 

[BeatrixFan]

Exclusive : Queen breaks New Year's Resolutions.

 

[reen]

And I had such high hopes that this would be the year that she could break the awful nail habit. Hee!
That's nicely photoshopped.

 

[Skydragon]

BeatrixFan, you can forget any hope of receiving an honour now, although I expect HM is laughing her socks off, if she has seen it!

-----------
Martin Collins, manufacturer of Polytrack synthetic all-weather surface, was recently granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II, which will be effective for a period of five years from January 1, 2008

Polytrack manufacturer Collins granted Royal Warrant - Thoroughbred Times

 

[iceflower]

Pics 13.1.2008

That's really great, BeatrixFan

The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II leave St Mary
Magdalene's Church on the Sandringham Estate, Sandringham,
Norfolk after attending the Sunday service, 13 Jan 2008:

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

 

[wbenson]

Al-Qaeda plot to kill Queen foiled - 14 Jan 2008 - NZ Herald: World / International News

A plot by terrorist group al-Qaeda to kill the Queen during a state visit to Uganda was foiled late last year by security services.

The terrorists had planned to hide inside two outside broadcast vans owned by the Ugandan Broadcasting Corporation and then set off bombs during the Queen's visit to Kampala last November.

 

[Skydragon]

BRITAIN'S Queen Elizabeth II is still recounting her visit to Uganda, Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi, fresh from a visit to Buckingham Palace has said.

allAfrica.com: Uganda: Queen Still Talking About Visit (Page 1 of 1)

 

[BeatrixFan]

State Visit from France announced;

Media Centre > Event highlights > French State Visit, March 2008

 

[Royal Fan]

Will the French President be accompined by Mm Carla Bruni did they Marry or not?