Hugging Michelle Obama to inviting Meghan Markle’s mother to dinner – 5 times Queen Elizabeth broke her own royal protocol
Sometimes even Queen Elizabeth decides to tear up the royal rule book to do others a kindness – whether that’s cheekily influencing Prince William’s wedding guest list or engaging with her fans – as these 5 moments prove
Queen Elizabeth may appear to be a stickler for royal rules – especially when representing the state abroad or attending official events – but in certain instances, she’s not afraid to bend centuries-old protocols out of respect to friends, family and the public. In contrast to her prim and proper image, here’s how Queen Elizabeth showed her rebellious side and let her guard down on a few notable occasions.
She embraced former first lady Michelle Obama
It’s very much “not done” to touch a member of the royal family, especially the UK’s nonagenarian head of state
However, during a state visit in 2009, Michelle Obama placed a hand on the queen’s back and moved to embrace her. Her Majesty seemed okay with it and returned the sweet gesture. At that time, an anonymous Buckingham Palace spokesperson insisted it was allowed and that no-one had breached protocol. Phew.
She took flowers from a blogger at an event
Laura-Ann Barr, a blogger based in Ireland who was invited to the queen’s garden party last year, shared how the 95-year-old royal not only stopped to receive her flowers, but to thank the blogger for her compliments. Barr recalled how security staff seemed genuinely surprised at the warmth with which the queen accepted the gift, congratulating her and revealing that such an interaction had never happened before, according to People magazine.
She invited Meghan Markle for Christmas in 2017 – and broke protocol again when she invited her mother, Doria, the following year