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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Sheilbh on April 03, 2009, 06:25:49 PM

Title: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Sheilbh on April 03, 2009, 06:25:49 PM
It seems the Queen did get pissed off at one statesman.  It's not surprising who attracted Royal ire:
Quote'We are NOT offended': Palace tries to smooth over Queen's 'Why does he have to shout' jibe at Berlusconi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSUn_J__MUk

The Queen today played down claims she had become annoyed with gaffe-prone Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi at the official G20 photocall.

Footage shows Mr Berlusconi being reprimanded by the Queen for being too noisy during the traditional 'family' photo of world leaders.

He nearly took Barack Obama down with him when at the end of the session he shouted out: 'Mr Obama!'. The U.S. President replied, more quietly: 'Mr Berlusconi.'

The Queen, on hearing Mr Berlusconi's strident tones, turned - seemingly to Mr Obama - and exclaimed about Mr Berlusconi: 'What is it? Why does he have to shout!'

The clip has already become a web sensation, but today Buckingham Palace insisted there had been no irritation or any 'gaffes'.

A Palace spokeswoman described the reception as 'warm and friendly' and said everyone involved was good-natured.

She added: 'It was loud and jolly and very jovial, there were no gaffes and no offence taken.'

The footage was shot on as part of the official G20 pool film and then distributed to the world's media.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2009%2F04%2F03%2Farticle-1166820-043A4201000005DC-396_233x310.jpg&hash=99729d07ac89ca91ce34ac661b23b3d0a5e19006)
Berlusconi, top right, glances down at the Queen during the photoshoot. His proximity to Obama begs the question why he had to shout 'Mr Obama'


But sharp-eared Italian journalists heard the distinct tones of Berlusconi as he shouted out towards Mr Obama and noticed the Queen's disapproving body language.

Within minutes the footage was posted on Italy's YouTube site as well as that of national newspapers including La Repubblica and Corriere Della Sera getting hundreds of hits.

One comment on YouTube said: 'Oh my goodness - where are his manners. The Queen should lock him in the Tower.'

Another comment said: 'It's what the world has come to expect from Silvio - and he now wants to be President of Italy. God help us.'

As well as being popular on the web, the Queen's disapproval of Berlusconi was seized upon by newspapers back in Italy who put the story on their front pages.

Corriere Della Sera had a cartoon on its front page showing the Queen with her fingers in her ears and the other G20 leaders looking startled as Berlusconi shouted out. The caption read:'The Voice of Italy'.

Corriere Della Sera's editorial described Wednesday's incident as an 'embarrassment' for Italy.

While another cartoon in La Repubblica shows two people discussing the incident with one saying:'Berlusconi's capacity for making a spectacle is unreachable.'

While the other replies:'Here in Italy we call it charisma.'

Its article read:'Yesterday on the web there was nothing more clicked, nothing more talked and it had nothing to do with international politics.'

At a photoshoot of world leaders at the G20 meeting in London yesterday Berlusconi managed to get noticed by not appearing in it.

First the Canadian PM disappeared for a 'bathroom break' and by the time he was back Berlusconi had disappeared.

Mr Berlusconi, 72, is well known for his gaffes and schoolboy jokes on the world's stage.

In 2002 he became the focus at another international summit when he made 'devil's horns' with his fingers behind the head of Spain's former foreign minister Josep Pique.

Last year he caused outrage by describing the U.S. President as 'suntanned'.

More recently he claimed that his response to the global economic crisis was different to that of the American president because 'I'm paler'.

He has also caused outrage by referring to German MEP Martin Schulz as a 'concentration camp guard'.

At the start of Italy's EU presidency in July 2003 he said: 'I know that in Italy there is a man producing a film on Nazi concentration camps - I shall put you forward for the role of Kapo (guard chosen from among the prisoners) - you would be perfect.'

He offended the Chinese in 2006 at a rally during the 2006 election campaign by saying: 'Read The Black Book of Communism and you will discover that in the China of Mao, they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilise the fields.'

And while at the New York stock exchange he managed the following comment: 'Italy is now a great country to invest in... today we have fewer communists and those who are still there deny having been one. Another reason to invest in Italy is that we have beautiful secretaries... superb girls.'

And Mr Berlusconi boasted that he had used all his 'playboy charms' to win over Finland's female prime minister to convince her to set up the EU Food Safety Authority in Parma, Italy.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dailymail.co.uk%2Fi%2Fpix%2F2009%2F04%2F03%2Farticle-1166820-043F1660000005DC-852_468x286.jpg&hash=119f87e6594ad69f4755f72c5877980572b6dee8)
Me and my mates: Berlusconi squeezes in-between Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as they pose at the G20 summit yesterday


His practical jokes have also fallen foul of his long suffering wife Veronica - he was forced to make a public apology to her after he told two stunning TV starlets that he 'would marry them' if he wasn't already married.

Fabio Evangelisti, of Italy's anti sleaze party Italia dei Valori (Italy of Values), said: 'At the G20, Italy has made its umpteenth embarrassing international impression.

'Our country does not deserve a Prime Minister who shouts out and earns the rebuke of the Queen - he can behave like that when he is with his songwriting friend [Mariano] Apicella or with his TV friends.

'He should not behave like that when he is representing Italy. It is not right that he should discredit our image in the world in this way.'
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: The Brain on April 03, 2009, 06:30:30 PM
I like g'affes. :)
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: DGuller on April 03, 2009, 07:08:40 PM
Man, if I ever meet the Queen, I would probably completely freeze up and stammer out of fear of doing or saying something stupid, or making some kind of a gaffe.  Well, that goes for any woman, but even more so for the Queen.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: The Brain on April 03, 2009, 07:13:46 PM
What Would Frank Drebin Do?
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:20:35 PM
Quote from: DGuller on April 03, 2009, 07:08:40 PM
Man, if I ever meet the Queen, I would probably completely freeze up and stammer out of fear of doing or saying something stupid, or making some kind of a gaffe.  Well, that goes for any woman, but even more so for the Queen.

Don't worry, you are never going to meet her.

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Admiral Yi on April 03, 2009, 07:28:35 PM
Porque no te callas Silvio?
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:33:10 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:

Probably better for the monarchy, but it wouldn't be right.
Charles deserve to be king.



Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:34:00 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 03, 2009, 07:28:35 PM
Porque no te callas Silvio?

I haven't seen Martim Silva around here.


Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:00:38 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:
Harry.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:03:37 PM
And wow, I haven't realised Berlusconi is that old.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:21:31 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:00:38 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:
Harry.

Fag.

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:21:57 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:03:37 PM
And wow, I haven't realised Berlusconi is that old.

Yeah, a friggin dino.

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: garbon on April 03, 2009, 08:22:46 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:21:31 PM
Fag.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fc%2Fcb%2FCENSORED.JPG&hash=89efd9398f85c5db2c7212b4dc68aff0eef4adcb)
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:24:57 PM
The diference between Garbon and Martinus, is that Garbon turns me on while Martinus turns me off.




Intellectually, of course.
Not that I have much of an intellect...

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: garbon on April 03, 2009, 08:26:33 PM
:x

Post edited.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Neil on April 03, 2009, 08:26:58 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:
You're such a fucking bandwagoning queer.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:28:50 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 03, 2009, 08:26:58 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 03, 2009, 07:30:15 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 07:19:49 PM
She should abdicate.
In favor of William :contract:
You're such a fucking bandwagoning queer.

How do you get away with saying things like that, while people jump on me for faaaarrrrrr less than that?

I fucking HATE YOU!!!

Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: garbon on April 03, 2009, 08:31:10 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 03, 2009, 08:26:58 PM
You're such a fucking bandwagoning queer.

Are there attractive men on the wagon? If not, I'd like to get off at the next stop.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: saskganesh on April 03, 2009, 08:40:31 PM
basically, treat the queen like your grandmother. don't piss her off and act your age.

also: I think the queen should send siege to bed without dinner.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Habsburg on April 03, 2009, 09:39:17 PM
@HRH  :thumbsup:  You tell him!
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Ancient Demon on April 04, 2009, 12:07:29 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:03:37 PM
And wow, I haven't realised Berlusconi is that old.
Indeed, he looks like he's in his 50's.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Delirium on April 04, 2009, 12:29:27 AM
The truth is, quite simply, that Berlusconi has been giving Italy a bad rep for a long time and this is not rated high on his greatest hits DVD. He seems to enjoy proving that the Italian electorate are idiots.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Ed Anger on April 04, 2009, 06:53:26 AM
Quote from: The Brain on April 03, 2009, 07:13:46 PM
What Would Frank Drebin Do?

:lol:
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Sheilbh on April 04, 2009, 08:02:04 AM
Quote from: Ancient Demon on April 04, 2009, 12:07:29 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 03, 2009, 08:03:37 PM
And wow, I haven't realised Berlusconi is that old.
Indeed, he looks like he's in his 50's.
Lot's of hair plugs and plastic surgery.  You can see it going slightly wrong in the pic with Obama and Medvedev.

Not as bad as his estranged wife though:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmanuelapeace.blog.kataweb.it%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F11%2Fsilvio-e-veronica.jpg&hash=0fedcf1abf3ee2e608cf30ed4845c5d0c5245801)
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: The Nickname Who Was Thursday on April 04, 2009, 09:37:40 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2009, 06:25:49 PM

One comment on YouTube said: 'Oh my goodness - where are his manners. The Queen should lock him in the Tower.'

Another comment said: 'It's what the world has come to expect from Silvio - and he now wants to be President of Italy. God help us.'

Nothing says serious journalism like quoting youtube comments!  :lol:
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Razgovory on April 04, 2009, 01:58:43 PM
Quote from: Delirium on April 04, 2009, 12:29:27 AM
The truth is, quite simply, that Berlusconi has been giving Italy a bad rep for a long time and this is not rated high on his greatest hits DVD. He seems to enjoy proving that the Italian electorate are idiots.

Did Italy ever have a good Rep?
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Martinus on April 04, 2009, 02:30:52 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:24:57 PM
The diference between Garbon and Martinus, is that Garbon turns me on while Martinus turns me off.
I sighed with relief.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Martinus on April 04, 2009, 02:32:40 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 04, 2009, 01:58:43 PM
Quote from: Delirium on April 04, 2009, 12:29:27 AM
The truth is, quite simply, that Berlusconi has been giving Italy a bad rep for a long time and this is not rated high on his greatest hits DVD. He seems to enjoy proving that the Italian electorate are idiots.

Did Italy ever have a good Rep?
Under Borgias.
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: garbon on April 04, 2009, 08:26:19 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 04, 2009, 02:30:52 PM
I sighed with relief.

Or was that a sigh from a completed orgasm?
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Caliga on April 04, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
I wonder why Lula got to sit right next to Her Majesty? :huh:
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Sheilbh on April 04, 2009, 08:48:18 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 04, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
I wonder why Lula got to sit right next to Her Majesty? :huh:
He's quite short and I think the shorter leader's generally got to sit front row (Sarko, Medvedev and Kirchner are there for example), plus he's been feted a bit on this trip.  I'm not sure why :mellow:
Title: Re: When Monarchs Attack
Post by: Siege on April 04, 2009, 10:14:06 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 04, 2009, 02:30:52 PM
Quote from: Siege on April 03, 2009, 08:24:57 PM
The diference between Garbon and Martinus, is that Garbon turns me on while Martinus turns me off.
I sighed with relief.

That's just envy that I like Garbon but I don't like you.