It was difficult to know which nation should have felt more ashamed when queen Windsor dined at the White House on Monday during her Washington trip. According to the New York Times, it was “Texas swagger” meeting “British prim”.
White House aides advised citizens of the American republic that they should observe British absurdities by calling the UK’s hereditary head of state “your majesty”. Her husband Phil was to be greeted as a mere “royal highness”.
American etiquette experts told American women they need not feel ashamed to curtsey to the female Windsor. And to prove that even Americans know their place on occasion, no American citizen was to continue eating after queen Windsor had finished her meal.
According to the Times report, republican President George Bush was not keen on the formalities of a white tail dinner. He did his duty anyway. But Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid seems not to have been impressed. He acted like a true democrat and turned down the opportunity to dine with those who have “royal” pretensions.