How to insult your liberators

[Panache]

Yet an French official is quoted as:

A French government source said: 'There were never any plans to invite members of the British Royal Family, although an invitation has been extended to Gordon Brown after he said he wanted to come.
'He will, of course, be concentrating on the British commemorations, away from the American beaches, as is appropriate. This is very much a Franco-American occasion.'

Eddie Izzard has a great bit about the British in World War II and the movie "Saving Private Ryan" about how no one seems to count the British

Sadly the clip is not family friendly (but awfully funny for those that know it )

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Freelancer]

That's quite bogus. Leave it to the politicians to muck-up a meaningful occasion.

[macwilkin]

This has been thoroughly discussed on some British sites I'm familiar with.

The scoop is, the French government, quite properly, invited the British government to send it's representatives. It just so happened that the (British!) elected official's decided that HM and the Royal family were not welcome. The current group of elected officials seem to have a decided bent to ignore history, the military, and all things Royal.

Chalk one up for the "reverse snobbery". The ironic part is that HM the Queen was driving and repairing lorries in the ATS whilst wee Gordon wasn't even in nappies yet!

Here's Princess Elizabeth serving her country during WWII:

http://caber.open.ac.uk/schools/stanway/army.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/s...a3408293.shtml

http://www.wracassociation.co.uk/History.html

First the Scottish regiments, now HM the Queen.

Edit: I just want to add that I'm not trying to make political statements. It's just for clarity that I'm pointing out that it wasn't the French who were snubbing the Royals. It's the elected British government that's doing that.

As the spouse of a proud French-Cajun, I thank you sir, for pointing this out.

T.

[JolyStNicholas]

To angry to comment. To dishonor those Veterns and their Queen, who gave their all, is a great disgrace to say the least.

[macwilkin]

To angry to comment. To dishonor those Veterns and their Queen, who gave their all, is a great disgrace to say the least.

Not to mention that HM the Queen is a veteran herself.

T.

[Chas]

This has been thoroughly discussed on some British sites I'm familiar with.

The scoop is, the French government, quite properly, invited the British government to send it's representatives. It just so happened that the (British!) elected official's decided that HM and the Royal family were not welcome. The current group of elected officials seem to have a decided bent to ignore history, the military, and all things Royal.


Edit: I just want to add that I'm not trying to make political statements. It's just for clarity that I'm pointing out that it wasn't the French who were snubbing the Royals. It's the elected British government that's doing that.

Where did you get this information please? Which elected official? Does he have a name? This is certainly NOT what was reported on all 5 major TV channels. The reports put the onus fairly and squarely on the French.

The current group of elected officials seem to have a decided bent to ignore history, the military, and all things Royal.

What evidence do you have to support such a broad sweeping statement? If this is not a political statement, just what is it?

It has been said that a lie will be half way round the world before a truth has got out of bed and put it's boots on - I can certainly believe that.

Regards

Chas

[macwilkin]

Where did you get this information please? Which elected official? Does he have a name? This is certainly NOT what was reported on all 5 major TV channels. The reports put the onus fairly and squarely on the French.

What evidence do you have to support such a broad sweeping statement? If this is not a political statement, just what is it?

It has been said that a lie will be half way round the world before a truth has got out of bed and put it's boots on - I can certainly believe that.

Regards

Chas

Chas,

This is from a story on the AFP:

A spokesman for the French government, Luc Chatel, said France had invited Britain to attend the ceremony and that it was up to [Gordon] Brown's government to decide who was to represent it. *

*emphasis mine.

--http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iHN1sQRCYMTqezYUZH0SHGaEmTew

[xena]

The source where I got my info from is not quite family friendly, so I'm hesitant to post it.

Chas, check your PM's for the link.

[Chas]

Chas,

This is from a story on the AFP:

This is from Xena's PM:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-wont-act.html

I would say it was down to President Sarkozy.

Gordon Brown is currently fighting for his political life. Any good news or feel good story is good for Brown. I just cannot see him missing an opportunity to have the Queen do a bit of free PR for him.

Regards

Chas

[BEEDEE]

I have traveled extensively along that part of the Normandy coast and visited all the invasion beaches. Unfortunately it seems almost as if Gold, Sword and Juno are forgotten and only Omaha and Utah exist. Personal opinion, the remains of the mulberry harbor at Arromanches is the greatest memorial to the daring and effort that went into the total endeavor and that was in the British sector.

It does seem insensitive to not invite the Queen and Prince Philip given all their personal contributions at that time. But the generation that is in power in most western countries were not born or just infants at the time of the invasion so have no real concept of what went on.

Just my 2c worth.

Brian