Queen Elizabeth hosting the American President so soon after her recent bereavement

IslandGranny

I’m really surprised at some of the posts. I didn’t expect such negative reactions, that was my first time posting and it will make me very wary of doing so again. I laughed out loud at nannaK54, much my sense of humour. Nannette1955 was more of the comment I was expecting. Hey ho I live and learn.

Islandgran. I beg your pardon you must have just reappeared when I made my comment.

However is you are here. Can you tell us why do you say “American muppets “ ??

OP, you start a highly contentious topic on HM the Queen, and make gratuitously rude comments about americans, and yet,
didn’t expect such negative reactions.
really ?

And here we have another case of the amazing disappearing thread starter ! OP. Sets up a thread which included references to the current president and his wife as American muppets ( hmm or has she not noticed trump has gone ?) then never returns to comment.

I’m really surprised at some of the posts. I didn’t expect such negative reactions, that was my first time posting and it will make me very wary of doing so again. I laughed out loud at nannaK54, much my sense of humour. Nannette1955 was more of the comment I was expecting. Hey ho I live and learn.

Urmstongran
All part of the service isn't it?
Did not this wonderful lady, in her speech on becoming queen, state and I quote,
Be devoted to your service and the great imperial family to which we all belong?

What`s the betting PP told her to carry on as if i were here, no need to mourn or put off duties.
He was down to earth after all.
She never seems to put herself first,duties come first.
I love seeing her smile and doing the job she loves.

hollysteers

Prince Philip spent most of his time away from the Queen at Sandringham anyway before ill health and lockdown changed his plans to Windsor. Apparently his closest female friend was Penny Mountbatten, his carriage driving companion. The Queen was used to long periods without him and I don’t think he was the easiest person to have around. Not exactly Darby and Joan, although he was a great support through the years.
As mentioned before, it’s not as if she has to cope alone, without much help, as we might do.
The Queen is going to be a very very hard act to follow and I would not like to be in that person’s shoes.

Wow! Do you gossip about your neighbours if they participate in the same sport? Not a pleasant trait.

Over the years HM has had to be polite to all kinds of people. The Bidens seem pleasant enough so can’t see the problem.

She’s probably keen to get back to some kind of normality. She’s apparently taken to zooming after a reluctant start. She isn’t easily fazed.

Travel is allowed for work purposes and I guess the G7 counts!

My in laws were very much of her generation and appeared to be devoid of emotion.

We arrived earlier than expected one day and Dad came in via the back door saying “where’s my Rosie Posie, my darling girl, the love of my life”. Mum went bright pink and I was lost for words.

You really don’t know what goes on behind closed doors and it’s not always bad.

Oh give over. She’s as tough as old boots. Been programmed from a young age not to show emotion. And he probably ‘left’ her years ago. As for the Bidens I’d think they’d be incredibly gracious and caring. She doesn’t have to jump up to get tea and biscuits for them you know ?‍♀️

The Queen epitomises duty - she has carried on through difficult times, and this, the worst of times, demonstrates just what this lady is made of.

We all grieve in our own way and time.

I imagine the Queen finds doing her job helps, otherwise she could have handed looking after the visitors to Prince Charles.

Bear in mind that we have only ever seen the public face of her marriage. It may have been wonderful and the loss immense, but statistically, it is far more likely to have been a perfectly ordinary marriage with its ups and downs, disagreements and times of deep content and happiness.

However at the Queen and Prince Phillip's ages I expect they had both long since faced up to the fact that one would be left when the other died.

That doesn't make loss easier, I know, but it does suggest some level of preparedness.

You have to admire her, don’t you? She has a wonderful sense of duty and is as tough as they come!

She has been looking quite sad for a year or so now - I think she may have been coming to terms with the imminent loss of her hubby for quite a while before he died.

"Surely her time of bereavement would be a year or so at least"

She's 95 and knows that she's not immortal. I'd get on with life if I was her!!

IslandGranny

I just heard in the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is hosting the Bidens at Windsor castle this coming weekend. I just think it’s far to soon to expect her to do any sort of public duty. How can she be expected to make conversation or listen to other people, it’s too much for anyone in that situation. I remember not being able to function at any level after my husband died. I wasn’t safe to drive and goodness knows what rubbish I spoke to people. Emotionally you are all over the place. What if she feels sad and cries. For goodness sake it’s like some sort of torture putting her on show and expecting her to perform for those American Muppets who won’t appreciate her sacrifice anyway. I’m surprised Prince Charles hasn’t stepped in, he’s more than ready to do state occasions.!Surely her time of bereavement would be a year or so at least.

I think you just can't judge anybody by your own needs and behaviour

President Biden has had major heartache too...losing his first wife and young daughter in a car crash & then losing another child to brain cancer. If anyone has the empathy its him. Maybe she will appreciate being able to talk through the sadness with someone who understands

I had to return to work 2 weeks after my H's death as at the time all I got was £54 a week widow's pension ( 1994 ). Probate took a while because there were complications from his late father's Will and 6 years tax to sort, so I had little choice.
My own salary was paid monthly so I had a couple more weeks to wait for that. Under these circumstances you have no choice but to be strong !

However, I hope in the near future to be reimbursed courtesy of the DWP who screwed up on the pensions from the past.

The Queen is an amazing and highly intelligent woman. She was back to work not long after her dear husbands death. She dedicated to life to her country when she was quite young during a radio broadcast. She has never gone back on those words and never will....

IslandGranny, your post made me smile, but I think you’re sadly underestimating our amazing queen! She makes her own decisions, and from what I know to try to stop her doing that is not a wise idea. I too lost my wonderful husband a few years ago, but grief and mourning are very different for everyone so I don’t think we need to worry for her. X

Urmstongran

It gave me a laugh too in the light of day. A silly post from me and I apologise for it.

That's ok Urmstongran
I hope you didnt mind me writing Trump's speech for him either

Island Granny, I think you are being very disrespectful in name calling the American President. He seems a really decent man, what a pity he had to wait so long before he got his position and the chance to make positive change.

Regarding the HM , she must have conducted so many duties in the public eye when feeling under par in her long life that I think she just gets on with it because that what she does. She is obviously a very resilient lady. All credit to her.

HC30 drug use is acceptable but a broken marriage isn’t?

Urmstongran

It will be her first meeting in person with a foreign head of state since the pandemic hit, and the first since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in April.

Amazing to think this will be the 13th POTUS she has met.

I think she ‘flicks a switch’ and goes into ‘work mode’. She can (somehow) hold her emotions in check. Duty comes first.

One has to admire how she does it - especially at her age.

I don't think she "flicks a switch" Not all people deal with grief in the same way and I got really fed up with all the people who wanted to hug me and assure me its alright to have a good cry IN PUBLIC! I mean what is she supposed to do? hide in a corner and howl for a "suitable" amount of time?

Muppets? What a horrible thing to say! My Mum wanted to get on with her life after Dad died, that generation were tough I think

Yes Newatthis, you’re right, one rule for us but another for others. How can the British people be basically told that they shouldn’t travel when this is going on? The G7 meet again next week with a delegation from India attending, and they’re not even members of the G7. Meanwhile many people who have booked to go to Portugal this summer are being told that they shouldn’t go really.