How very dare he!

Actually, looking at the photo of her greeting him, I can't get over how much the Queen seems to like Trump.

Her eyes lit up when she greeted him. She's just glowing!

More than ‘polite’.
Happy!

Nah, Urmston, I don't think she finds it fun. She's doing her job brilliantly. She's a pro and it shows. Amazingly gracious after the banter which began before he'd even set foot on British soil. He should have shown the same level of diplomacy instead of re-igniting his old spat with Khan. Khan should have backed off and let the tweet hang in the ether clearly showing DT to be the antagonist.

Well I’m of the opinion that HM looked very happy, not just protocol demanded politeness.
?

HM is a class act and more than capable of faking feelings if the day calls for it.
This presidential visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of D Day. The Queen is one of an increasingly small number of people who lived through that time. As a Head of State, she recognises and acknowledges the importance of a visit from any HoS - including the current President. I loathe the individual but I respect the Office.
for that reason I'm disappointed the Labour leader isn't at the state Banquet tonight. especially given the historic significance of this 75th anniversary. I don't know how many American service personnel gave their lives on those beaches but it was thousands. It seems petty minded to me to ignore that sacrifice from a key ally . I wish we'd had a PM like Harold Wilson, who refused to support the US in Vietnam, rather than Tony Blair who made the unforgivable error in supporting Bush in the invasion of Iraq. Both countries made huge mistakes at that time. We live with the consequences and despite my dislike of Trump, he represents the US - we have shared history and will no doubt need each other in years to come.

Urmstongran you said that MD made repetitive remarks. Look back over you own posts regarding mine!

No inside knowledge, but somehow I doubt if HM was overjoyed at meeting Trump. It was, as has been pointed out, a photo, easy to capture a fleeting look. Of course she smiled, she is a professional, and polite at all times. She could hardly have greeted him with a scowl, could she?

Urmstongran so you are "of the opinion that HM looked very happy, not just protocol demanded politeness"

You are of course entitled to hold, and express any opinion you choose, as indeed am I.

She looked happy to me. She was in her element. I reckon she just enjoys meeting other heads of states. Probably doesn't care a lot what they're actually like, so long as they are polite.

I can't think why the Queen would look anything other than happy. She loves the big state occasions. She's the perfect hostess and is mindful that visiting heads of state, no matter how arrogant and pompous they might be, are diminished by her presence so is keen to put them at their ease.

I am thinking back to the documentary where she wandered around the palace gardens with David Attenborough. As a 'plane flew low overhead she said, with a twinkle in her eye, something along the lines of, 'Do you think Mr. Trump might be dropping in?' This was shortly after his last visit and was a lovely example of her sense of humour because she knew the remark would not be edited out.

She's far too clever to give anything away by her expression when meeting somebody who is a guest in her country.

IMV our Queen is brilliant and can cope with anything. Her smile, when meeting President Trump, was on her lips and in her eyes which shows it was real and sincere.
Who knows, HM might secretly admire his 'say it like it is' attitude after all, her husband, the DoE is the same.
I don't think Ma'am is so inculcated into the Royal lifestyle that she can't appreciate people who have lived very differently. I'm sure she enjoys jokes and can be a bit ribald in private.
Gawd knows she's seen and heard it all.
HM got on well with that B movie actor Ronald Regan who was famously spoofed with half a walnut for a brain.
She might be sick of 'normal' and obsequious fawners and appreciate when things go a bit Pete Tong.
Something to laugh about later with Angela.

Regan Reagan

Diplomatic relations with extremist President Trump are still in order. Talking is still possible with these extreme right wing leaders, especially when the Queen is as always impeccable.

Grandad1943 Just how childish can one get. Grow up!

phoenix, re your post of 02/06/19 at 19.14, I find it almost unbelievable that a ‘mature’ woman (or man) can write such a vile and undignified post.
Disgusting, and not the kind of thing I expected to read on Gransnet. Obviously foolishly, I expected reasoned debate, not the kind of comment one would expect to find in the playground, and in the school I taught at, such language would have been rewarded with it being pointed out that it’s not the kind of language expected in our school and some loss of privileges.
Is this what we have come to, playground insults?

I too feel sorry that the Queen in her dignified old age has to get her hands dirty, but she did hard work too during the war when she was a motor vehicle mechanic

Phoenix had written:

"urmstongran whether or not I'm "gorgeous" is neither here nor there, cheap shot. But as you are a declared Trump fan, then no doubt you would probably think his looks are entirely natural, his farts (if indeed he does fart) smell of roses in the morning, and sandalwood & jasmine in the evening, and make a wonderful noise akin to "Ode to Joy" when (if) air does pass between his firm and (naturally) tanned buttocks.

Oops, not "Ode to Joy" of course, as that is the anthem for Europe, perhaps it might be more appropriate if it was something else?"

Maddyone, your response is a little prudish. I agree that Donald Trump is still a big handsome man and I can sympathise with ladies and gentlemen who mistake charisma for quality. I also appreciate expressively Rabelaisian writers like Phoenix.

The elderly Queen has quality. Donald Trump has charisma how else could he have become the president?

Phoenix wrote a Rabelaisian response. I regret if any wise and experienced gran be prudish

Alexa, I in no way admire Donald Trump, particularly with regard to his looks, I don’t find him to be handsome or attractive in any way whatsoever.

However, when the insults become childish and immature, as well as rude and unbecoming, I do not think that makes me a prude, it simply makes me polite.

Rebelaisian means vulgar.

"Rabelaisian means vulgar" is a terrible definition of a respectable lit crit term!

If I'm allowed to voice an opinion, I think Mrs Trump is gorgeous, tall, elegant and appears to keep her own counsel! I admire his choice of partner. Pity she won't be thinking of joining Gransnet

I prefer Camilla's dress sense!

"However, when the insults become childish and immature, as well as rude and unbecoming, I do not think that makes me a prude, it simply makes me polite."

That opens up an interesting potential discussion.

HM got on well with that B movie actor Ronald Regan who was famously spoofed with half a walnut for a brain.
Actually, I think you do him a disservice, Gabriella.

Reagan, Thatcher and Gorbachev together brought about Glasnost which was a relief to so many, ending the Cold War.
Reagan and Thatcher brought about the Montreal Protocol, to date so far one of the best environmental treaties - helping to save the ozone layer. Global warming could be even worse if that had not come about.
He created 16 million jobs in America through his economic reforms.

In some areas, America has gone backwards since then.

I thought it was funny anyway, phoenix

Ronald Reagan, irrespective of his politics, had a certain charm which Trump totally lacks. I'm sure HM enjoyed his company. She did very well to tolerate Trump. They say she is a good mimic. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when she mimics him.

maddyone if you are so easily offended, then I suggest that you don't read some of the works of Chaucer or Shakespeare!

Callistemon thank you!