Canada governor breaches protocol by helping queen
You don’t, as a general rule, touch the queen.
Canada’s governor general did just that Wednesday when he decided to breach royal protocol for members of the public and gently grab hold of Queen Elizabeth II’s elbow to ensure she didn’t stumble during an official engagement in London.
“It’s a little bit awkward, that descent from Canada House to Trafalgar Square, and there was a carpet that was a little slippy, and so I thought perhaps it was appropriate,” David Johnston told CBC after he met with the 91year-old monarch to mark Canada’s 150th birthday.
Johnston, who is the queen’s representative in Canada, lightly guided the queen’s elbow as she ascended steps at London’s Canada House. He did the same thing as she left the building. Canada is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of 53 countries, many of which were once part of the British Empire.
Wednesday’s flouting of royal etiquette made a few headlines in Britain.
It didn’t appear to ruffle any feathers in Buckingham Palace, which did not comment on the episode.
We’ve been here before. In 2009, first lady Michelle Obama threw the royal rule book completely out the window and gave the queen a hug during a reception at the palace.
Royal watchers described it as a mutual display of affection. The gesture nevertheless broke centuries of protocol: It was the first time the queen had put her arm around another woman in public.