Camilla snubs Brigitte Macron at D-Day Anniversary, rejecting her gesture of warmth

[TallerSally]

Well, isn't this a funny one.

Foreign heads of state are under no obligation to respect protocols of foreign royalty, particularly in their own country.

Seems Camilla didn't get the memo:

"Queen Camilla, 76, and Brigitte, 71, had an awkward moment on June 6 during a service marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France. As seen in a video shared to X by the Daily Mail, French President Emmanuel Macron's wife tried to hold the royal's hand after they laid wreaths at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer. However, Queen Camilla didn't reciprocate, keeping her arm at her side. After briefly grasping the royal's hand, Brigitte stepped to the side and folded her arms in front of her.
Proper etiquette around interacting with the British royals has long been a highly discussed subject. The royal family's website, which has yet to be updated in full following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, states, "There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting The Queen or a member of the royal family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms."

Funnily enough, Charles himself didn't follow royal protocol:

"Proving that there are no hard and fast rules around how to say hello, King Charles, 75, greeted President Macron with a hug at the British Normandy Memorial and kissed his wife's hand."

I guess Camilla's more royal than the royals themselves?

https://people.com/queen-camilla-brigitte-macron-awkward-moment-royal-avoids-holding-hands-d-day-anniversary-event-france-8659266

Well said

Better that she has manners. Twenty minutes late today, an hour the other day. Madame Macron should show respect to the D-Day veterans if not the royals.

I don't think the thread has gone quite the way she had been expecting.

Still baffled as to what we're supposed to wake up to - apart fom Brigitte Macron apparently having bad timekeeping, no respect for the veterans and no sense of occasion. Have I missed anything?

Yes exactly. I quite like her, I’ve no issue with her at all but for me it has really undone the whole idea of the ‘royals’ in a way? I guess every generation will have their moment like that though. I’m no royalist but would look at the Queen and think that’s the living descendant of historical figures blah blah. But now ‘The Queen’ is just this random woman!!! It’s just weird and not right at all 🤣🤣

Why would they hold hands? It was a solemn and respectful occasion with no need for hand holding. If a veteran had reached for her hand then she should allow this. The veterans needed comfort and respect for their bravery and in their remembering . It must have been difficult to be there.

Camilla was doing the non-military respect thing - lay wreath; few steps back; straight back and arms by your side; bow of head. You can imagine the criticism she would have got if she'd indulged Macron's hand holding. As it was, Macron made a complete dogs dinner of laying her wreath.

Foreign heads of state are under no obligation to respect protocols of foreign royalty, particularly in their own country.

Was Camilla insisting on royal protocol, or did she just not want to hold someone's hand?

In the video, it looks odd that she tries to hold her hand, why would she? I wouldn't be surprised if Camilla didn't initially realise what was happening, and maybe thought the hand was just out to guide her back (like "and now stand here" sort of thing).

I'd have liked to see BM trying that with her late maj. That one had a look that would stop a charging rhino.

I just want to know why they both had so many clothes on? Aren’t you supposed to show some skin at these things?

Me and Dh have just been watching it on the news and he really can't take to Prince William being the Prince of Wales, you are right it will be a generational thing,

I still didn't see the dramatic snub😀

But she’s not “The Queen”. It’s just a shorthand title meaning she is the King’s wife and in no way the equivalent to “Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

It’s just like Princess Henry.

"Queen Camilla behaves respectfully and professionally at a sombre work event" shocker.
Grow up, OP - the Queen behaved appropriately and as one would expect of an educated lady.

I know! It’s just the Thing of it. TV voiceover - ‘And now the Queen shakes the hands of…’ NO she doesn’t that’s just Camilla P-B!

Generational, I really think this. But also I think she should have been called Queen Consort. Or something else. It’s just too weird after just having had a Queen for so long!

Princess Henry! I like it. I might start calling her that instead

Or Gerald. Queen Gerald the Smoky 🚬

I watched it and it did look as if Mme. Macron half-offered her hand but I do wonder if it was more in a steadying way than wanting to hang on to Camilla for the next ten minutes. I thought it was to do with the possible unsteadiness of bowing the heads and also stepping backwards.

It is weird! I never call her Queen. And if I say “The Queen” I’ll always mean QE unless Charlotte becomes Queen.

Agree. I am really warming to Queen Gerald though. Get that ball rolling 🤣

@TallerSally

I had to smile, again, at the frenzied, international reporting of the ‘snub’ directed by the Consort towards the elegantly chic French woman. If you look back at the previous coverage of these two it states how warm they are together, share giggles and a budding friendship etc etc. However, In some of the previous photos I could also see a vibrant, engaging and very sweet French lady with a rather dowdy Englishwoman (despite the overly coiffured white Dianaesque hair and new wardrobe) who is probably missing her wellies and dogs. 😊☔️ Not that the Consort did not crack a smile or two, she did and also laughed alongside that French ‘B’. I hope this new version of Anglo French relations does not go nuclear. 😂

A few photos of what was once. Plus a sketch 💔 🙃

Misogyny at its finest. Women are just supposed to look young and pretty for you?

In my opinion, Camilla behaved properly and with dignity. The ceremony was about the veterans and the dead.

It would be nice if some posters focused more on the meaning of DDay rather than, as usual, on clothes and outward appearances.

This.

I like Madame Macron, but no desire to hold her hand.

Seriously, I don't understand why people give even one second's thought to this sort of shit. As others have said, this is all you've taken from the commemorations??

The first response said it all - Get a life.

I'm from a country (Malta) that played an absolutely pivotal role in the second world war, FOR the Allies, and no one talks about it much. The D-Day landings involved France, the UK, Canada, and the USA. While D-Day was pivotal in the course of the war, I don't mind at all that Malta isn't represented or involved in the ceremonies around that anniversary - we were occupied elsewhere, as were other countries who ultimately swayed the outcome of the war such as Poland, the USSR, Yugoslavia, and others.

For the people and the countries directly involved IN D-Day, they're all going to have different feelings about this day and how it fit into the overall context of the war. Brigitte Macron isn't a monster for holding out her hand, Queen Camilla isn't a monster for not taking it. They were both there witnessing and respecting the moment and the sacrifice on behalf of their countries.