First lady Michelle Obama hugged Queen Elizabeth yesterday at Buckingham Palace in London. While that may sound like it's no big deal, actually is a breach of royal protocol. No one is supposed to touch the queen. The queen reportedly didn't mind, however.
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Queens don't hug!
In fact, it is considered a breach of royal protocol.
Throne
Apparently the first lady and the queen were hanging out in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. (It would be immature to make a crack wondering if it was the "Royal Throne Room" so we won't mention it.)
An official photo of the world leaders had just been taken, and while they were meandering out, the queen and the first lady struck up a conversation.
Eyewitness
What happened next rocked the world. Or at least Britain. Get a load of how the Daily Mail reported it:
"The Queen started chatting to Michelle Obama. She appeared to look up at her and make a comment about how tall she was," said an eyewitness. "As she did, she put her arm around Mrs Obama and rested her gloved hand on the small of her back."
"Almost simultaneously, Mrs Obama put her arm around the Queen's shoulders rather more firmly. The pair then looked at their feet and appeared to be discussing their shoes."
"The Queen then dropped her arm and, a few seconds later, Michelle did the same. The entire exchange lasted around eight to ten seconds but was absolutely extraordinary," gasped the observer.
Historymaking
Overly dramatic? Apparently not. The reporter goes on to say, "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."
It makes you wonder if in times past you would have heard an immediate "Off with her head!"
They take this so seriously, apparently, that when Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating dared touch the queen back in 1992, he was besieged with criticism, later earning the nickname "Lizard of Oz."
Thankfully Michelle didn't go all Blarney Stone on Her Majesty.
Best friends
The good news is no one seems to care. In fact, the BBC reports that the queen really liked Michelle.
"Now we've met, will you please keep in touch?" the queen said.
Then Michelle brought the house down when she replied, "No pun intended?"
(OK. We made up that last line. But it would have been a good response.)
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