A spokesman for the French President said:
'the Queen had been 'naturally welcome all along'. He claimed it was up to the British to say who they wanted to attend the various events, adding: 'It is not for France to designate British representation.' (Daily Mail).
Brown arranged an invitation for himself but made no arrangements for the Queen, the Commander in Chief of the United Kingdom's armed forces, to be present. The Queen is also Queen of Canada, whose forces were so prominent in the D-Day landings. While President Obama will, quite naturally, be present at ceremonies on the United States Beaches as US Commander in Chief, not to have our Commander in Chief present on the Beaches where the very last of the troops then present will parade for the last time needs a full explanation from our peculiar Prime Minister and his Downing Street staff.
And not just to us but to most of the Commonwealth as well, starting with the Canadians.
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3 comments:
It is an awful shame that there will be nobody present worthy to take the salutes of the last surviving British and Canadian veterans.
Under the circumstances perhaps a fly-past by a solitary Spitfire would make an eloquent statement?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRkYlL9ptS0&feature=related
As I've said somewhere else, the correct response would be for the British and Commonwealth veterans to refuse to attend unless Her Majesty is present.
That would shoot Broon's fox for him and leave him - hopefully - dreadfully embarassed.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
It's for the government to consult with the Head of State and with other countries and arrange the protocol of invitations. The Mail reported that the Queen had said she wanted to go but the government announced it didn't do ceremonies except for certain years and 65th wasn't one of them. The Palace insisted but were ignored.
The French were presented as being responsible for wanting to exclude he Queen when it is specifically the government that evaded arranging the invitation. And sought an invitation only for Brown. He and Blair have form attempting to pose as Head of State - Blair at the Queen Mother's funeral was notable.
They play on the fact that some would prefer not to have a monarch as head of state. But that is just a dirty game. I want the office respected in full and proper behaviour from the executive.
That Brown, with all that he is and stands for, should go to such a ceremony having effectively pushed aside the Queen is not normal. But then he isn't, to our shame for letting him stay.
The spitfires are probably still in use in Afghanistan, Carter, the level Brown's funding of his wars stands at. They were certainly using modified Comets until quite recently when they started falling out of the sky from sheer old age.
Can't agree with you 8.57. Those who can go should go. But their march past should be with one of their own, our Commander in Chief or our representative standing in for her. Not the member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. He properly represents those people only and one wonders just what kind of people they might be to choose to have him.
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