If you were to come face to face with Queen Elizabeth

What would you do? I'm not sure what I would do, and of course it would depend on whether you anticipated the meeting or if somehow it was happenstance (less likely).

nt

Kate Middleton's mother said "Pleased to meet you" when introduced to the queen rather than the upper crust "How do you do?"

Rumor has it that that faux pas was one of the mitigating factors on the unsuitability of Kate as a potential wife to William.

pleased to meet the queen.

Sheesh. Prickly much?

Oh, and a curtsy.

The first two choices should include the phrase "Your Majesty" but for some reason it won't let me put it in there, even upon editing.

:evilgrin:

at least until we can be rid of the NeoCons and restore some sanity.....

I might see her in a couple of days when she comes to DC. I might say something like, "I hope you're enjoying your visit."

When I met Prince Charles last year in DC, he seemed to be on autopilot - he was just saying the same things over and over regardless of what people were saying to him.

And then I would tell her we have really been trying to do something about it since November.

if she stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

that you would give the Geico cavemen second fiddle. NICE. lol

briefly take her hand if she offers....then go about my way

Just caught a glimpse of her visit on C-Span, and every greeting line was ten rows deep with people shoving cell phone cameras and camcorders in her face -- it's almost embarrassing to watch.

No uppity person would bow or utter the words your majesty.
;)

sorry :blush: :hide: :yoiks:

Carry on being your uppity-self! :hi:

However, I would never bow or curtsey. I am not one of her subjects.

so I wouldn't curtsy or bow. I would say something pleasant, even if only a banal, pleased to meet you. If I were only good at accents, I'd do it in an Irish brogue, to honor my four Irish grandparents.

:rofl:

LMAO

Love your answer!

LOL

That is assault and battery. Why is going to prison for a felony worth showing her that you are A DUer

Thank you! Funny is a great addition to my day.

... then I have no future as a comedian.

(Ergo, I have no future as a comedian.)

:)

I say you should be made fun of by those who do know.

Or do you think she's a "Betsy"?

Her nickname ever since childhood has been "Lilibet".

suggestions here about apologizing for the cretin we have in OUR White House at the moment.

:)

:thumbsup:

what horse to bet on in the Derby. I bet she put a few bucks on one of the horses today.


http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/2880185

No future.

The Sex pistols speak to deeper things sometimes in thier songs, alot of the very truths that we need to hear nowadays.

Were the poison in your human machine
Were the future your future

I learned to love punk. A lot of anger in the right places.

We've got some corporate strangleholds to throw off. Too many poor people are suffering.

but I gotta have a belly full of wine.

:thumbsup:

I always am. Don't know about the curtsy though. She's not my Queesn. I would treat he with respect as I would anyone I am meeting for the first time.

What I'd reallly really like to do is ask her what she carries around in the handbag of hers. Credit cards? Drivers license? Valium?

Mz Pip
:dem:

I DOUBT she needs ID for anything! In fact her proper signature is Elizabeth R. Even though her REAL name would be Elizabeth (3 or 4 middle names) Saxon-Coberg, that was to German after WWI so they changed to Windsor. She is directly related to Queen Victoria.

And don't those royals have the fountain of YOUTH tucked away somewhere?!?

Cheers
Sandy

Hello, I was born in 1946 and my name is Rose Elizabeth. Guess who I was named for. lol

I remember my dad calling it "solomn high pomp" -- a play on "solomn high mass" which for some reason slightly shocked my mom.

I'm a year younger than you, and no way would my Irish-American mother have named me for a British queen. ;-)

I'm not overly impressed with The Royals, but I do think this queen has lived by what she sees as her duty, through thick and thin. She's sincere that way, and she's spent her entire life at this job. I wouldn't want to live that life.

She's now an old lady, and it's too bad she won't retire and let her son take over whatever it is they do, although he seems to have found a niche in architecture/urban planning, and ecology/organic farming.

So if by some bizarre chance I were to be introduced to her I would not curtsey, as I am not her subject, but I would offer my hand with a smile and incline my head, as Americans do. Miss Manners (Judith Martin) says that's the polite thing.

Hekate

Being an Aussie - American (duel citizen) While we aren't fully RULED by Britian she IS still the very head of State, and the next guy down from her (forgot his name Lord something or other) can change certain things they do not like. BUT they never have. At least not since Elizabeth has been Queen.

She granted Australia the right to be a Republic (Why not for N. Ireland is BEYOND ME and rascist to the core, IMHO), Most Aussie's apparently are Monarchists and didn't want to break away from the Commonwealth. But trust me, they still bitch about it all!

Cheers
Sandy

there was a whisky tent with men in kilts dead ahead.

I just love men in kilts, makes me go all weak in the knees!:loveya:

Followed by a friendly wave of greeting and or a handshake (if allowed to).

I do not "curtsy" and I would not lower my eyes.She is an older lady a very rich pampered and"declared special"for all her life .but she's an old lady nothing more.

I would say to her, With all the wealth you have hoarded in that castle,don't you ever consider giving some of that away? Not nickles and dimes to charities but give to people that need because you can. If you really wanna feel how America really is get away from the wealthy cliques. Go walk on the streets,not the fancy ones but the regular ones in poorer places, ditch the trappings of royalty,and become a human being,an elderly woman that you really are.

I bet your life would look very different if you stayed in the poor sections of town, lived as we do, met some people not like your class without wearing your symbolic identity, and you might find a person that will show you being the queen is not so wonderful anymore..that is if you are not a psychopath because if you are you will never understand the evil the concept of divine rights of kings IS..People who think they are so entitled are a blight upon humanity no matter how polite tied up in traditions or stately they appear..We are all equals and I am your equal so I will look into your eyes and treat you like an equal.
There is no such thing as royalty ,there is no such thing as authority it is all an empty sound.I will remind you of this .I do not play make believe..

I could NEVER bow down to ANYONE!!!! No one should be above anyone, period!

So if you were in Japan, you would act like the typical American and ignore the normal form of greeting in that country, because you dont bow to anyone.

then it wouldn't be an insult for me to be expected to bow. Completely different scenario you presented.

equally like shaking hands I'd bow, no problem because in Japan both parties bow to each other.
But bowing to one person who does not bow back,as if this 1 person deserved my show of submission , NO.

Bowing in Japan VS bowing to a monarch are two different things.

It has different meaning in Japan. I would bow if they also did.

In fact you'd look silly doing so since you aren't a royal subject.

She wasn't raised to be Queen either. He uncle abdicated and when her father became King it KILLED HIM (it's NOT an easy job, even if it looks it) So she was literaly thrust into the position and has done a pretty damn good job.

She is also a MAJOR tight wad - with her own family, belongings etc. She still drives 20 year old Range Rovers for crying out loud! The first monarch to DRIVE themselves anywhere - guess where she learned to do that? WW2!

I used to despise her, I have grown to respect her once I learned more about her. She is stoic, sticks to her guns, tradition etc. She also PAYS TAXES! Her money isn't HERS (although I am sure she has some inherited dosh) her money belongs to the UK and all their relms!

Only a few are on public 'funds' not even Edward the youngest gets any - he had to make his own money. Of course good connections help!

And NO I am NOT a Monachist, but I do appreciate the tradition and how well the Queen has held up through out the years.

Cheers
Sandy

Unless you're her subject...

I'm not her subject, but I don't disrespect her as a person. Then again, I'd probably need classes with *, unfortunately, on how to behave around royalty. :puke: at that thought, but at least I wouldn't ask her to pull my finger, call her "old gal" or pick my nose, so I'd be all sorts of ahead in that class, :rofl:

That oughta get her knickers in a bunch.:evilgrin:

you've interfered with Prince Harry and Kate's relationship. You're an ole hag lady that insists on flexing your mouth!

Prince Harry is still with his little blondey (Chelsy Davy) from S.Africa! Another commoner - who's father is shady as all heck.

It was WILLIAM and KATE that broke up and it wasn't the Queens doing - otherwise the relationship never would have gained legs to start with LOL They were together and LIVED together at one time for 4-5 years.

The Queen fully approved of her, she was invited for Christmas! (boyfriends/girlfriends are never invited to spend Christmas with them - so she obviously adored Kate!)

Cheers
Sandy

longish story, but yes, I made that promise to my mom. Because my ancestors were Scots and Irish, and it would be disrespectful to them, according to my mom. So, if I ever met the Queen of England, I wouldn't curtsy or bow or give her a royal greeting. Something more like, "How do you do?" And then Id give her the opportunity to shake my hand.

:D

:rofl:

Bette Midler wants to know what "the whitest woman in the world" keeps in that purse of hers.

except maybe someone like Steven Colbert. :D

Americans never, EVER EVER bow to any foreign royalty or ruler. It is a breach of etiquette.

NEVER.

NEVER.

Rivers of scarlet blood have been spilled so that citizens of this land can demonstrate to the world that liberty reigns where the government exists by the consent of the governed, and that tyranny flourishes where men must bow to other men.

Our refusal to bow is a witness to the world of the power of democracy in practice.

Never, never, ever, ever bow. Never, never curtsy. Shake hands, be polite.

so I guess I'd say something like that. :shrug:

I just could not give a shit less about celebrity, and in my mind, royal birth is several rungs below entertainer. At least entertainers have an unsual skill.

Anyway, it was a few years back in Edinburgh. I was on vacation with a friend, and we'd left our hotel room very early in the morning to get a look around at the city before it came awake.

We were standing on a corner, and it was beginning to drizzle a little bit, so I was trying to open my umbrella. Suddenly my friend started tugging on my sleeve and saying "oh wow- oh wow- look- look", and when I looked up from my stubborn umbrella, I was looking at the Queen in the backseat of her little Queen car, about two feet away, with bodyguards or somesuch on either side of her in the backseat. They were paused at the corner as well, and she was looking right at us. No one else on the street that you could see.

I said, "neat", and went back to opening my umbrella.

They drove away and my friend was staring and beaming at them as they drove off down the road. She turned to me and said, "THAT WAS THE QUEEN!" and I said, "I know- neat. Let's get coffee".

She still laughs at me for that all the time. I knew it must be unusual to see the Queen out and about like that, but I just... I don't know, I don't give a shit about that stuff.

then whip out my deck of cards and ask her to "pick a card, any card"...who can resist that?

I still smile when I think about it! It was so weird...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4956114#4958167

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3193656&mesg_id=3195873

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=1959912&mesg_id=1960087

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=1363832&mesg_id=1363854


I felt flushed and happy.... she is only a figurehead w/ no real power.



PS - I was sad to see a # of names I have not seen recently as I did the search.

...must be awful to live a whole live with zilch privacy, even if you're born & raised to it. Details of your family life discussed in the 'bloids, strangers feeling free to speculate about whether you're a stone bitch or just tight in the crotch, people shoving phonecams in yer face the whole time... horrid.

shudderingly,
Bright

In former days I'd have challenged her with a churlish "So what makes you think you're better than me?"

Now I recognize it's her duty to act like she's better than me. She didn't run for the job: she was bred and trained for it by others, and there's little that she can do about it but make way for someone less qualified.

So these days I'd probably bow minimally, call her Your Majesty and then try to get some dirt on Bush, or Blair. Or Brown, or whoever. There's just better fights to be had.

Well, it wasn't exactly face to face, but I was not expecting her to ride by so close in the little horse-drawn coach.

She was returning from opening Parliment and there was but a handful of people at Buckingham Palace (there were more color guard than lookie-loos) and I wasn't expecting her. I had my then 4-year-old son with me. The coach went right in front of us and we, well, just waved. But she was close enough that I certainly knew who it was.

Then I'd ask her what it's like being born into an artificial position because of some archaic traditions, and if she had ever considered throwing it all away, getting some plastic surgery and living incognito as a regular person.

Personally, the fishbowl-like life of a royal, with all the endless pomp and pageantry and functions would wear on me. I don't think they are people to be envied.

But the Japanese royals have it worse. They have almost no personal freedom. When Masako, a highly educated professional married into the royal family, she had to give up her career and one of her favorite pastimes, driving. Now her handlers occasionally let her drive around within the castle walls, but she is not permitted to drive herself, ever.

It amazes me that governments and citizens still support such unbelievably anachronistic systems as monarchies. Does anyone still honestly believe these people are any more, or any bettter than anyone else?

I do have sympathy for Her Majesty. She was not born into being the heir to the throne but had it thrust upon her when her uncle abdicated. Her father did his best, and she is doing her best. In that aspect she is to be admired. In other aspects she can be pitied. Living life in a fish bowl, does the fish know what privacy is? Privacy gained through many peoples' vigilance (and that not completely secure either; imagine being the target of sensation hunters who would invade your bedroom & terrorists who want to kill you when possible & any meeting must be carefully vetted). In other aspects, she may have psychological disorders of sorts as an effect of growing up isolated from people who treat you as a human being rather than a performance.

It can't be easy to have so much potential only to have it stifled by other people.

immigrate more easily.

and Mid-West going over there if that happened!

I know my family would!

my little corner of heaven, if that doesn't come to pass I already speak the (real) language, and almost understand the money.
:rofl:

Like the commercial. ;-)

In reality I would tell her I was honored to meet her and that I looked forward to crossing the pond some day to come to her country.

Julie

no royalty in my own country, and I certainly believe that Elizabeth would know this is how most Americans feel.

I would be respectful, especially since I have great respect for her as a person, but the 'royal" aspect is as far from what I believe as one can get...:)

While bowing my head slightly. No, I'm not her subject...but she is the Queen of England. I would recognize that fact. She is the Head of State of England...and for me to say something like "Hey Liz, what's up?" would be insulting.

as soon as we step off the plane. I gotta get out of this place." I'd also call her "Your Majesty," and maybe even curtsy, just make her feel at ease and get on her good side.

But I gotta get a bellyful of wine.

The proper form for ladies is a slight (not overt) curtsie,(men bow from the waist about half way with head UP not down) address her as Your Majesty, and there after as Ma'm. (don't ask how I know LOL)
Cheers
Sandy

but your forms of address are correct for both.

I'm sure I wouldn't be the first, she's already met Bush.

old lady.

You don't often (well, I don't often) get to meet people like her, and any smart-ass or profound thing I tried to say would have zero impact, so why not act like a decent person.

before moving on...

"Ireland for the Irish!!!" and add my sigline.

On edit: Forgot to say that of course I'd be wearing my Sinn Fein T-shirt.

that they refuse to grant N. Ireland the right to be a Republic, but every other bloody place that has asked gets it! Australia was granted the right in the mid '90's but a referendum by the Australian people VOTED against it. Crazy huh.

And in Australia it is a game of "spot the Aussie" because everyone is from somewhere else. Like New Zealand (#1) UK (#2) Ireland - mostly North and Scotland (#3) everywhere else, especially South East Asia and Japan (#4).

American's own the most land of all foreigner's - even though the Aussies would swear it was the Japanese!

cheers
Sandy

Prince Bleachers the 7th from New Yorkshire.

'We miss you a lot, John

(actually, that was McCartney, but we still miss John ;) )

These are western nations and both can tolerate some common ground in protocol.

I don't curtsy...to anyone.

By the way, I'd like to thank all of you who would show due respect to my Queen. She is an intelligent woman of strong character doing a very difficult job under often trying circumstances, and she deserves, if not your obeisance, then at least your respect. And I say this as a socialist who is probably farther to the left than most who post on this website. Her Majesty has given wise and experienced counsel to eleven prime ministers, even to that dreadful Margaret Thatcher who refused to accept it much of the time. The Queen represents the United Kingdom in exactly the same way your flag represents you.

The minority of you who say you would "smack her" or "trip her" or call her Liz, if you are truly being serious, are cordially invited to go fuck yourselves.

I'm not her subject...but I still would show the proper respect to a guest in this country. And she is a Head of State, which does entitle her to our respect.

I'm sort of surprised reading some of the responses here. Imagine a President Edwards visiting England and being the recipient to some of the responses some people here would show the Queen. Would the same people here be laughing over that kind of treatment? Goddammit, it's politeness. I wonder what happened to that quaint concept in this country.

SHMILY

deservedly or not.

that might ensue.

LOL.

I wouldn't recognize her and just assume she was a little "off".

But if she had all her entourage with her (as I assume she would) I don't imagine I would have a chance to say anything at all. Which, isn't really a big deal. She's just a person.

I think last time she was here some lady grabbed her and kissed her. Maybe just a chorus of Consider Yourself At Home. A little showtune always loosens up the crowd! :)

(as I cannot imagine any other circumstances under which we would meet each other) and so I would be happy to observe all proper protocols.

Why this urge to kick the woman in the pants? She herself has done nothing in her public life to generate animosity from me or, frankly, anyone else who does not pay taxes to support the royal institution. USians hatin' on the Queen - yep, that makes *so much* sense.