Queen of England and weird photographer.

The BBQ Pit
1

I was watching on the Yahoo front page the link from the Barbara Walters special on QE2, specifically profiling the photography shoot with Annie Leibovitz.

Now I’m not one of those Americans who love the royal family regardless of their relevance to actual British life, nor am I an expert on protocol regarding treatment of the Queen or her family. I like history. I know a fair amount about the historical significance of the royal family beginning with the Tudors, so this is where my irritation lies. I’ll be happy to be corrected on any point I make if it is factual.

What got my dander up is the tone that Lebovitz takes with the Queen. The scene is this: The Queen arrives late for a photo shoot in the palace because the robes of the Royal Garter are very difficult to don and take longer than scheduled. During the shoot, Leibovitz says very plainly that she wants the Queen to take off the tiara. Why? Because it’ll be less dressy.

Because it’ll be less dressy. What?!

The Queen says something like, “What? This isn’t dressy?” (Motioning to the folds of cloth draped about her.)

Now, I’d like to see the Queen state in no uncertain terms what that probably meant…
“Fuck. Off.”

But we’re not going to see that out of Her Grace. And this is exactly what allows that ego inflated asshole of an “artist” to behave as though she is an equal. The way she says, “Your Majesty” grates on my nerves because it’s said with all the respect of a person who clearly does not recognize the person she’s speaking to as someone who deserves some reverance simply for being a person of historical interest. The office of Queen comes with certain perks, (as I have come to understand it) that just ARE. You can be as critical of her as you’d like outside of actually being in her face, but when you are in her face, you do not get to simply speak to her as if she were some…I don’t know what, but not the matriarch of a family who, while not retaining power in any real sense except socially, still has hundreds of years worth of lineage carried in baggage slung to her shoulders like an enslaved sherpa.

The exchange makes Leibovitz look first like a total moron, completely ignorant of what she was getting when she had the Queen dress up in the Garter robes, and second like an egomaniacal bitch so inflated with her own sense of talent and self that protocol and common sense take a back seat to her oh so keen whims that every subject should just do what she says.

This is one demonstrated reason why the rest of the world looks at Americans and thinks we’re all uncultured slack jawed dumbfucks.

Man, I don’t even know if I got the link right. This is good wine, but man, does it make me testy. Bah!

2

Well, this Englishman thinks that a little less nauseating obeisance towards the Royal Family might help make them slightly less of a bunch of quasi-inbred lunatics who think the sun shines out of their arses. The very idea that in this day and age, someone should be taken to task for daring to behave as if they were an equal (don’t Americans hold that truth to be self-evident?) frankly makes me queasy. From your reaction you’d think Leibowitz had asked the Queen to insert a buttplug instead of make a minor costume change.

3

Less dressy Queen.

Practising her infamous Billy Connolly-inspired speech.

NSFW.

Particularly if you like corgis.

4

Here’s my take on the argument:

The Queen arrives late for a photo shoot in the palace, despite having a horde of servants to dress her and nothing else to do.
During the shoot, the highly talented woman who works for a living asks the one who inherited everything to take off the tiara.

The Queen does not deserves some reverence simply for being a person of historical interest.
You should be polite, since she represents the country, but there’s no reason to kow-tow to her.

5

It seems a bizarre artistic choice to me. If you don’t want a “less dressy” photograph of the Queen, she can wear one of those housewife dresses she favors. If you want to photograph her in her robes as head of the Order of the Garter, the “dressy” ship has already sailed.

6

Well, Anne Leibovitz is an artist, with photographic ability and an eye for composition who has photographed practically every notable figure in the last five decades, and Elizabeth II has as her major life achievement the fact that at the time of her birth she was pulled out of the proper set of genitalia.

7

Yup

8

The link doesn’t work for me so I tried searching for it.

The best I could come up with was this old picture

Perhaps Leibovitz being an artist an all didn’t want to repeat herself.

9

Are you fucking kidding me? Other than the basic respect that one human being owes another human being, why does Her Grace deserve more “reverence” thank anyone else?

Leibovitz should have taken more cues from Johnny Rotten.

10

When the qualifications for the “office” are that you clawed your way out of the right womb at the right time, I find it difficult to respect the office.

She can still dissolve Parliament, among other things, which is far more than just “social” power. You may not be as familiar with the Monarchy as you believe.

Well, Leibovitz is an egotistical photographer who, while good, is no better or worse than thousands of others. I don’t see why she should be held out as an example of America. Unless of course the rest of the planet is a bunch of uncultured slack jawed dumbfucks who cannot understand the simple concept of one person != the whole.

11

Positions as high as the Queen’s are taken by whoever has collected the most money, guns, or status. Any of the three can be painted in rosy and romantic ways, as in the will of the people, social revolution, or divine birthright. I see no reason to knock her qualifications any more than a US head of state who took his position after a series of successful fundraisers and dog & pony shows. If she deserves no special respect, then neither does the nation she represents.

As far as the picture taker, fuck her. Hundreds of eager and talented replacements are chomping at the bit for an opportunity like this. Move aside, bitch.

12

I should point out that the Queen of England is someone to respect. If not for her position, then for her sensibility in public view over her lifetime. Make no mistake, she has spent a lifetime in public service, and should be respected for that.
She also did serve in the Armed Forces during WWII, when she did not have to in any way.

She has repeatedly demonstrated personal bravery in the face of terrorists, and reigned over the change from the British Empire to the Commonwealth of Nations in a gracious fashion.

In short, she has done very little harm, and a great amount of good, despite remaining largely behind-the-scenes.
(And, in the rare cases her words have been brought publically, they reflect that good grace and wisdom. http://www.monarchist.ca/mc/queenpr.htm )

I’m as much a democrat as the next person, and more than many, but I do respect her.

13

Not to defend American heads of state, but the queen didn’t “take” anything, it was all handed to her. She could have been (and maybe is, for all I know), a drooling moron with no more ambition than to keep her diapers dry, and she would still be queen. Other heads of state have to work for it in one way or another.

I find it interesting that the OP claims not to be “…one of those Americans who love the royal family regardless of their relevance to actual British life”, yet for some crazy reason believes the queen is owed “reverence”. I’m having a great deal of trouble thinking of ANYONE who is owed revernce with no tangible accomplishments in life.

14

Just to be clear, did you mean this about the US President or the British Queen?

15

That’s a great picture. Everything in it is all magical and regal and grand and baroque. Except for… that door. That looks like a pretty utilitarian door. Heck, I think I have a door like that.

Very odd. But great.

16

Well, both, but the President has to at least sign some papers and speak to the public to get the job. How he got elected, after we’ve all had a sample of his speech-making ability, is one of life’s great mysteries, AFAIC.

17

:confused: Could the OP do more than link to the Yahoo! front page please? :frowning: I’d like to see this video clip for myself, but I cannot find a link to it. Thank you.

18

It looks like they replaced the original door with a full glass one that would permit a better view of the outdoors. There’s your aesthetic utilitarianism for ya :wink:

19

This is a bit unexpected, coming from you (unless your point is that neither do, in which case I agree). The concept of one person embodying a nation’s respectability seems a million miles from your generally individualistic philosophy. Treat the Queen precisely as politely as you’d treat anyone else, and accord respect as it is earned. Why should anyone deserve any “special respect” other than that which they’ve personally earned? And why on earth should debasing yourself in front of some crotchety old lag make me feel any better about my country? Colour me confused.

This is just weird. Am I the only one who saw absolutely nothing wrong with the way Leibowitz addressed the Queen? I thought she was perfectly professional. The Palace employed her, remember; it’s not like they were doing her a favour.

As a general comment, it really strikes me that many Americans revere the Royals far more than most British people do. Take them, would you? Then you can bottle their farts or whatever, and we won’t have to watch non-stop live television coverage of Prince 'Arry tying his shoelaces.

20

She has been paid millions of pounds a year to host diner parties and launch ships. It’s not exactly strenuous. :rolleyes:
Nothing she has ever done compares to a nurse or a firefighter.

I find this unbelievable.
My father served in the Armed Services in WW2. He hated it, but did his duty. He risked his life, as did millions of others. Millions died world-wide.
And you’re seriously suggesting that the future Head of the country doing a bit of work was a choice? :rolleyes:
Royal says “I think I’ll sit this one out. Bring me a cup of tea, will you. And give my best to Mr. Hitler.”

Please give one example of such ‘bravery’.
She may have reigned over the Commonwealth, but all the work was done by politicians.
Anyone can sit on a throne and wave.

Yes, she has indeed ‘remained behind the scenes’. And done no harm. And no perceptible good.
She makes a pleasant symbol (though I wish her son would put the toothpaste on himself instead of relying on a valet to do it.)
But this is a woman with no skills or qualifications.