Surprised not to see a thread on this. Seems Sarky is nailing his underpants firmly to the mast. TheStar.com | World | Queen left out of D-Day ceremony NO member of Royal family to attend D-Day 65th anniversary | Mail Online France admits not inviting the Queen to 65th D-Day anniversary - Telegraph --------- LONDON–Indignant British veterans and outraged commentators complained yesterday over the omission of the Queen from the guest list for next week's ceremonies to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France. Britain played a key role in the Normandy landings, which accelerated the liberation of Europe. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be at the anniversary ceremonies, as will U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. But no member of the royal family was invited to attend the ceremony at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach on June 6. France insisted the Queen is welcome and blamed the British government for mistakes in handling a "Franco-American" ceremony. "It is not up to France to determine the British representation," said French government spokesman Luc Chatel. The main event will take place in a U.S. war cemetery, so technically it is up to Washington to hand out invitations, a French official said. A palace spokeswoman said the Queen, who took part in similar ceremonies in France marking the 50th and 60th anniversaries of D-Day, would still consider coming to France if she received an invitation. The royal family served as a rallying point during the war and the Queen, as a young princess, served briefly in the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. Associated Press, Reuters
I was just about to post this as I thought you all missed it. The Connexion - The Newspaper for English-Speakers in France What a bloody disgrace!
Saw this on the news tonight and find it bloody amazing. Shambles. I'd rather have a member of the royal family than Mr. Brown there.
Paul I heard an item on BBC earlier. It still left me very confused about what exactly brought this about ... and part of me just can't help wondering what our F.O. were doing when Mr. Brown announced his u-turn on the D-Day anniversary issue. Apparently the Queen cannot invite herself along - as Head of State she must be formally invited - but by whom, is what I am getting at. Good to read though that she will still consider going even if these events in her diary generally take over a year advance planning.
I did hear earlier than Price Charles might go, but the BBC announced this evening that no Royals will be in attendance.
How many other heads of state & dignitaries attending were actually in the services at the time? I hate to knee-jerk too much over news stories, but that's my immediate visceral thought. ~A
I love the term Franco - American Ceremony. Maybe they'll serve Spaghetti-O's. I bet if Brittain had a Battleship she would have been invited Seriously though, does she really need a formal invitation? It seems to me that if she just showed up they wouldn't turn her away. Maybe I am missing something.
So what's different about France - they are always resentful of the British - even when we were helping to liberate them in WW2 - playing football - the list is endless of their resentment - even Gen Juin was resentful in Italy when he didn't get his own way - 8th Army was too slow causing him resentment until it was pointed out that his North African troops were running through an open door in the mountains whereas the 8th Army was fighting real Germans in very strong defences - now their president's single mother wife is leaving the RC Church as she resents to Pope's attitude to condoms - now that has to be real resentment ..... we should have our own ceremony on the British beaches - with ALL the royals - and leave Brown with the France -American ceremony - give 'em something to really resent... Cheers
There's nobody to blame for this but our own British Government. They were the ones that decided ages ago that the UK wasn't going to take part in any large official joint 65th anniversary event.
I was wondering if there's any groups of ATS veterans pottering over that might invite her to go with them .
So what's different about France - they are always resentful of the British - even when we were helping to liberate them in WW2 - playing football - the list is endless of their resentment - even Gen Juin was resentful in Italy when he didn't get his own way - 8th Army was too slow causing him resentment until it was pointed out that his North African troops were running through an open door in the mountains whereas the 8th Army was fighting real Germans in very strong defences - I think it's very harsh to lump an entire nation together like that. I have spoken to a lot of locals in Normandy over the years who are very much appreciative of what all the allied forces did in 1944. The thoughts and feelings to come out of Paris, the government and the French media are not representative of the entire nation of France imho.
I think it's very harsh to lump an entire nation together like that. I have spoken to a lot of locals in Normandy over the years who are very much appreciative of what all the allied forces did in 1944. The thoughts and feelings to come out of Paris, the government and the French media are not representative of the entire nation of France imho. Absolutely, this is about Presidential attitudes, not the locals.
2 - I bet if Brittain had a Battleship she would have been invited 1 - Seriously though, does she really need a formal invitation? It seems to me that if she just showed up they wouldn't turn her away. 1 - Jolly good idea!!! 2 - Doesn't the HMS Victory qualify?
Ironic at first glance how President Obama was given a invitation but Quen Elizabeth II wasn't and she was apart of the war effort! Like stated above it could be a British government mishap, from the vibes I'm getting it dosen't seem like the British government is going to take this event very seriously. First the "pay for yourself if you want to go" statement and now this?
I suggest that we organise a 70th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Britain for next year and show that there are no hard feelings about this mix-up by inviting Sarkozy. He can then stand behind whichever of the Presidents of Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia is the taller.
1 - Jolly good idea!!! 2 - Doesn't the HMS Victory qualify? Well, we could lend-lease them one of our battleships....for old times sake!
Seems to me a poor attempt at blaming France for what increasingly appears to be a flub on the part of PM Brown. Even the worst of the anti-French tabloids appear to have admitted themselves (from a NYTimes column): The tabloids quoted anonymous palace officials as saying it was the Brown government that dropped the ball, possibly because of reported strains between Mr. Brown and the queen. Among other issues, the queen is said to have cooled on Mr. Brown because of his habit of appearing late for their weekly audiences. The Daily Mail quoted one “senior palace official” as saying that the palace had made clear to the government that the queen would have liked to go to Normandy. So if Brown has a memory lapse, Sarko gets the blame?
Found this uninformed comment interesting from a chap in Florida! In fairness to the French President, the whiner-in-chief's grandfather actually fought in the World War, I think everyone in the Queen's immediate family did not. Sorry Rachel, I am for Sarkozy the American. With this being a response from Phil in England. The Duke of Edinburgh served with distinction in the Royal Navy. So did his uncle the Earl Mountbatten and was later allied commander in Burma. The Queen's uncle, the Duke of Kent was killed whilst serving with the Royal Air Force in 1942 on a flight between Scotland and Iceland. She lost 4 uncles in France in WW1. Her father was in the Royal Navy in WW1 and her Uncle (King Edward Vlll) served with the Grenadier Guards. However, as far as I am concerned the French can invite whoever they want. My uncle was killed at Caen just after D Day when he served in the Canadian Army. Luckily the many other serving members of my family returned home alive. In the opinion of a humble Aussie: It seems to me that once again, "Politics" have got in the way of "Good Form".
1 - Jolly good idea!!! 2 - Doesn't the HMS Victory qualify? 1. I'd party crash with Her Majesty 2. Didn't the Victory strike her colors when she faced the USS Constitution?
