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After the hullaballoo over Michelle Obama's touching Queen Elizabeth ll on the back and failing to curtsy, I just have to share this.
The media would have us think that protocol is ALL IMPORTANT with the Queen and her family. I beg to differ. As you have seen, I did a pencil portrait of Her Majesty and Prince Philip after I saw her in a documentary chronicling sittings for her portrait done around her 80th birthday. I could not believe the down to earthiness, quick wit and charm she showed in that film. I felt we were seeing the real Queen Elizabeth for the first time. She was feisty, sometimes a bit testy and full of good humor. And sometimes a bit bored with sitting and sometimes, it seemed, annoyed with the artist, too. Well, I just fell for her all over again.
Have you ever wanted to do something for somebody just because you found them so endearing? That's how I felt after watching the documentary. I hesitated to do a lowly pencil portrait after all the grand paintings I had seen of her, but I thought just maybe she would like a simple pencil from a simple person. I determined to draw from the photo I saw of her and Prince Philip in the Daily Telegraph and send it to her, not knowing if it would ever see the light of day. In my accompanying letter, I told her how much I had enjoyed the documentary and even dared to tell her she was, 'down right cute'! Can't believe I did that but I did because that is exactly how I felt about her. I rather think she got a chuckle out of it because she definitely has a sense of humor.
Did she get it? According to her Lady-in-waiting (The Queen doesn't write, I hear), yes, she did. Was she insulted to high heavens that I said she was down right cute? Apparently, not in the least. Did she like her portrait? She was delighted according to the lady-in- waiting who mentioned Her Majesty's appreciation repeatedly. I acknowledge the Brits are gracious but that response was so sincerely appreciative that I tend to believe she did get it and that it was well received
I may have committed a serious breach in protocol. But my letter and portrait would have been ignored if it had been insulting. So, rest assured, I don't believe she was at all perturbed by Michelle Obama's protocol deficiencies. Don't know how well she liked the IPod, but Michelle's warmth was probably appreciated.
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