It was over in less than 20 seconds, but even some casual followers of the monarchy were aghast at the uncomfortable interaction. Yes, it is a royal no-no to walk ahead of the queen.
Did Donald Trump forget to bow to the Queen?
As to the walking-ahead incident, from everything I've read about the Queen, she is a gracious and gentle hostess. I'm sure that the lapse was momentary (from all reports, under 20 seconds), and I'm quite sure that Her Majesty didn't give it a second thought. Tradition and courtesy go both ways, and I'm sure that they include giving visitors the benefit of the doubt.
As to the failure to bow before the Queen, our President was quite right. Americans don't bow to anyone. We put an end to that nonsense in 1776, and again in 1814. Unlike the Lightworker's embarrassing compunction to bow to everyone with a title, Americans bow to no one but God. The Queen should know that. Everyone knows that.
The entire outrage from the media is quite amusing.
Last I knew, it was akin to treason to bow or curtsy to any foreign leader because every American is an individual sovereign. That said, most of the instances I've seen in the past are where both parties bowed out of respect for each other.
ReplyDeletePawPaw, as I remember the Drill & Ceremonies manual, the troops to be reviewed were the Queen's, so it is appropriate for her to hang back so Trump could walk the front rank and prepare to inspect individual soldiers, if that was his choice. That inspection, of course, would involve stopping, then a facing movement, and that is not done from a trailing position, but from a leading position.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNRXGRFJdDY
ReplyDeleteSteve