France

Queen Camilla’s Protocol Snub: Refuses Attempt by French First Lady to Hold Her Hand

Published

6 months ago

June 8, 2024

Macron tried to grasp Camilla’s hand, but Camilla didn’t reciprocate.Getty Images

Queen Camilla, alongside King Charles III, attended the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event on Thursday to honour the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

During their visit to the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, Queen Camilla and French First Lady Brigitte Macron had an awkward encounter.

After laying wreaths for fallen soldiers, the First Lady attempted to hold the Queen’s hand as they stood together in a moment of silence. However, Queen Camilla declined the gesture and kept her arms by her side.

Recognizing the situation, the First Lady stood alongside the Queen with her arms folded.

Eventually, the two women rejoined their husbands, King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron.

This incident quickly gained attention on social media, eliciting a mixed reaction from the public. While some criticized Queen Camilla’s refusal as a “petty snub,” others commended her for upholding protocol and displaying dignity.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time royal protocol boundaries have been tested. During a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2009, Michelle Obama placed her arm around Queen Elizabeth, who reciprocated the gesture by briefly wrapping her arm around Obama. This rare display of affection was seen as a mutual and spontaneous act.

In her memoir, “Becoming,” Obama also mentioned the incident, emphasizing her instinctive actions.

The Buckingham Palace spokesman stated that they do not issue instructions on not touching the Queen and could not recall the last time such public affection was displayed with a first lady or dignitary.

Forget the occasional diamond crown and the flight to London on the presidential jet; we were simply two exhausted women burdened by uncomfortable shoes,” Obama stated. “I then did what comes naturally to me whenever I feel a connection with someone new: to show my emotions openly. I placed a hand affectionately on her shoulder.”

King Charles III made his first trip abroad since announcing his cancer diagnosis. (Getty Images)

She added, “But I did not let the criticism bother me. If I hadn’t followed the proper protocol at Buckingham Palace, I had at least acted with compassion. I believe the Queen was also fine with it because when I touched her, she drew closer, gently placing a gloved hand on the small of my back.”

During the event on Thursday, King Charles – who revealed his cancer diagnosis in February – paid tribute to the Allied soldiers who landed in France on June 6, 1944, to liberate France from Nazi-occupied northwest Europe.

“How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the United Kingdom and other Allied nations did not hesitate when the time came to face that challenge,” Charles said in a speech at the event. “On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond, and in the skies above, our armed forces fulfilled their duty with a profound sense of determination and resolve.”

King Charles shakes hands with a veteran

The day before, the king, accompanied by Camilla and Prince William, had arrived in Portsmouth, England, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Britain's King Charles, President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron

In a video shared on the official royal website, Charles addressed the crowd of veterans and politicians, saying, “The tales of bravery, strength, and unity we have heard today and throughout our lives cannot help but touch us, inspire us, and remind us of the debt we owe to that great wartime generation, now sadly dwindling in numbers.”

In February, Buckingham Palace disclosed that Charles had been diagnosed with a type of cancer and was receiving treatment, along with a “separate issue of concern.”