After furious diplomatic exchanges between the French and British governments, reports are emerging that Queen Elizabeth II — the only reigning monarch to have actively served in World War II — has finally been invited to commemorate the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France next week together with other heads of state, including Presidents Obama, Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown.
The late and somewhat begrudging invitation by the French Government should be delivered by President Sarkozy himself, together with an apology for the incredible lapse in judgment by the Quai d’Orsay. After all, it was primarily an Anglo-American effort that led the 1944 push for France’s liberation, and the eventual defeat of Hitler’s Third Reich.
Although President Sarkozy is well known for his reluctance to share the limelight, the commemorations of the D-Day Landings should have been put above politics. During the celebration of NATO’s 60th anniversary at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit in April, Sarkozy broke 60 years of diplomatic protocol and demanded to be sat next to the Secretary General during the televised parts of the ceremony (he took his alphabetically assigned seat during the private negotiations). To transfer this vanity to something as symbolically poignant as the commemoration of the D-Day Landings is unconscionable.
The Queen’s grandson, Prince Harry, will visit New York City today and pay respects at the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A veteran of the war in Afghanistan, Prince Harry has followed in Her Majesty’s footsteps, and actively served his country during a time of War. It is a shame that the same can not be said for the very leaders who ‘forgot’ Her Majesty’s invitation to Normandy next week.
It's about time. I could not imagine her not being included at the outset. No room for politics on this occasion.
This brings to mind something I have always thought should be addressed. A requirement to run for the Presidency of the United States should be a tour of duty in one of the branches of the Armed Forces. And, I do not mean the reserves!! (Sorry George!)
The French forget their inability to “keep” their country! They are an ancient seat of Liberalism in that they rather talk to the enemy then stand and fight. I would suggest that the next time the People of France loose their country to an invader, the rest of the world just walk away and let the French deal with it.
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Why are we blaming the froggies for Brown? Gordy's the one who tried to shine off this as a chore, a time killer in between 60th and 70th anniversary bashes. Because of him hundreds of British vets, who won't be making the 70th, were delayed travelling and boarding aid 'til everything was booked solid. And since the Franco-Yankee comemerations are done on a different beach, Utah landing, from the British event it's not protocol for Sharky to do the invite. The onus is on PM Brown, the absolute churlishness of this fellow; he still has invited her….he's leaving up to the hungary froggie!
If HM The Queen is not invited, then I suggest that all British personnel should pull out in protest at the insult, not only to Her Majesty, but to Britaina and the Commonwealth
Whilst some will claim that this was an oversight, and some may say ( if they had the nerve ), that it was intentional, most everyone will conclude that it was downright stupid to not notice immediately, without prompting, that the Queen, a major player in the diplomatic world, and a major personality, was not invited. Stupidity can't be explained away.