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Home › Politics

Michelle Obama Hugs the Queen! | 04/02/2009 11:15 am

Michelle Obama Hugs the Queen, Breaks Royal Etiquette (Photo)

First Lady Michelle Obama’s back-patting embrace with Queen Elizabeth was an unprecedented gesture.
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
©AP

Michelle Obama made an unorthodox move when she hugged the Queen as they got cozy at Buckingham Palace yesterday. But the First Lady wasn’t entirely to blame for "breaking protocol."

On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth touched her hand to Michelle Obama’s back, and Obama returned the gesture. The move — though seemingly innocent and polite — is a departure from "appropriate" protocol while meeting the Queen. It is normally forbidden under royal etiquette to touch the Queen unless she touches you first, which she did in this instance. However, back patting is an almost unseen gesture. The exchange sparked whispers and gasps abounded.

The Daily Mail:

No one — including the ladies-in-waiting standing nearby — could believe their eyes. In 57 years, the Queen has never been seen to make that kind of gesture and it is certainly against all protocol to touch her.

‘But she didn’t seem to mind a bit and was smiling and joking throughout,’ the eyewitness said.

Michelle Obama and the Queen clearly took to each other at the drinks reception afterwards as they chatted and laughed together.
Normally, it is forbidden under royal protocol to touch the Queen.

The last time the First Lady made waves for breaking tradition was in February when she went sleeveless during her husband’s ceremonial address before Congress. Click here to find out why Michelle Obama didn’t "bare" arms at Buckingham Palace.

2009_0402_ap_michelleobamahugsqueen.jpg

Image © AP

 

Read more about: Barack Obama, Buckingham Palance, Culture, G-20 Summit, Michelle Obama, News, Politics, Queen Elizabeth, Society

30 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Violet P

Mrs Obama is so charming and welcoming that I’m not surprised that the Queen was compelled to touch her.  It is a new day and the Queen needs to connect with touch.  What a wonderful moment. 

By Violet P on 04/02/2009 2:06 pm
katywon LA..
It was charming. Remember the Queen is just a senior citizen with power and grace. As you get older you need to feel a closeness to people. Michelle is apparently outgoing and charming also and the Queen found a mutual friendship, if only in passing.
By katywon LA.. on 04/02/2009 3:29 pm
S G
Michelle Obama is a class act:)
By S G on 04/02/2009 4:08 pm
L. C.
What a lovely photograph of First Lady Obama and Queen Elizabeth! God Bless Them both!
By L. C. on 04/02/2009 9:37 pm
starry Nite
I am so proud of our first couple.  They represented the country in a manner we can all be proud of.   I just wish we all were proud of our new president.  Several of the posters to this site are so viscous and negative when it comes to the Obama’s.
By starry Nite on 04/03/2009 12:09 am
caj p
Me too, it is so obvious that the Queen and our First Lady got on well and that was such a great thing to witness.  Protocol or not, the Queen did not see any problem with it at all as she made the first move anyway.  The Obama’s are a treasure to our country and showed what class they have, the rapport they both have with all they meet is wonderful and what a boost to our standing around the world.  Thrilled to bits with the way they have conducted themselves and so very proud of them both. You are right though about all the negatives on here about the Obama’s but it is all sour grapes as they just can’t stand to see our President so well liked here and abroad.  He is portaying how a President should act when with other heads of state and has done a great job of it.
By caj p on 04/03/2009 12:15 pm
Cheryl Mitchell
Starry, the thing that bothers me most about the nasty, negative posts, is the lack of respect shown to the office of the president.  I completely understand freedom of speech, but gosh! I often wonder what the people in other countries think of us Americans when they read that stuff.  Mostly, it tells you a lot about the people making the comments.  Anyway, I am proud of our president and the first lady. 
By Cheryl Mitchell on 04/04/2009 8:40 am
lillian ayuso
all i have to say is bravo for mrs. obama, apparently she was able to melt the british. what better ambassador than her.
By lillian ayuso on 04/03/2009 1:12 am
E .

Meh - whatever.  I think it is pretty cool that in this instance, in this way, with these two women that protocol was set aside.

The Obama’s are mucho mucho touchy-feely even for Americans.  Remember how the candidate Barack Obama could not keep his hands off Bill O’Reilly?  Has anyone coined the term Obamassage yet?  Do I get credit for it? 

HRH got Obamassaged by Michelle!  

By E . on 04/03/2009 11:55 am
lavern reed
the moment was awesome.  Media have nothing to do but find anything for the ratings bonanza with their usual reckless, irresponsible, erratic, and unethical reporting.  meida has long since been to inform an matters of substance.
By lavern reed on 04/04/2009 11:02 pm
Jeannot Kensinger

Two human beings touching, what more can we ask for?

By Jeannot Kensinger on 04/06/2009 9:03 am
Susan Gabriel

I can’t believe how much is being made of Michelle Obama’s arms. First she’s criticized for having buff ones and now for actually using them to touch someone. Geez. Don’t we have better things to be concerned over?

I, personally, think she’s an amazing woman.

susangabriel.com

By Susan Gabriel on 04/07/2009 2:24 pm
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