Obama, Brown, the Queen and the D-Day celebrations.

[Gromit]

Mr Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will mark the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings alongside the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen will not attend as she has not been invited.

On Sunday Gordon Brown said the event was intended for prime ministers and presidents, rather than royals.

Now, US President Barack Obama is trying to secure an invitation for the Queen to attend the official D-Day commemorations in France on Saturday.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said: "We are working with those involved to see that it happens."

Apparently, the Queen and the Obama's got on very well at their recent meeting.

If the Queen does attend, will this be an embarrassment for Brown?

[naomi24]

So do I zac. The fact that she hasn't been invited, and that it's left to the American president to try to sort it out and do the right thing, should be an embarrassment for Brown. He is an embarrassment to this country.

[craft1948]

Do you think Sarkozy didn't invite her because of his republicanism......

[craft1948]

neatly summed up Zacs............

[kinell]

sarky is almost french isnt he?

if i was madge i wouldnt bother because the french attendees will probably be on strike that day

[jake-the-peg]

What is it with a 65th anniversary anyway?

Are we "celebrating" every 5 years years now?

D-Day, VE day, Dunkirk, Churchill smokes another cigar day?

Enough already!

And what is it with trying to blame Brown for absolutely everything?

Next thing you know certain people will be trying to pin this plane crash on him.

Trying to blame him for a diplomatic screw up between the French and the Americans is sounding just a tad desperate!

[youngmafbog]

It is just another example of McBottles arrogance. He will certainly be going down in the history books, at this rate as the most unpopular leader (and I use the term loosley) ever. And you lefties thought Thatcher would forever hold that crown, but at least many of the party faithfull kept with her. Perhaps it is because Philip might have a word with bottler that he did not invite them. I can imaging them seeing eye to eye somehow.

I note your use of Mr Obama and PM Bottler Gromit. Was this a dilberate anti american slip ? Surely you should have addressed him President Obama or Bottler as Mr Mcbottle ? (As for the Frenchman - who cares)

[Gromit]

The French have invited the British.

It is not the French or Americans job to decide who the British representative is, it is the Government, who are allegedly led by a Mr Brown.

[Quinlad]

I'd think this piffling nonsense is the least of Gordon's worries.

It's pretty much a media invention that people are hungrily lapping up, and interested parties are now playing to the gallery.

It's monumentally inconsequential.

[jake-the-peg]

Got a source for that Gromit?

[Gromit]

youngmafbog

No slight on the American President intended. I copied and pasted from the BBC News website. I usually put them in italic and post a link, but I was in a hurry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8078294.stm

PS

at least many of the party faithfull kept with her (Thatcher).

You must have a very short memory. The men in grey suits ditched her before she could lose them the election, and that nice Mr Major proved them right.

[Gromit]

jake

"The French have said officially that they regard the commemorations in the American sector of the landings as �primarily a Franco-American ceremony,� and that it was up to the British to decide who should represent Britain � in other words, that Mr. Brown was at fault for not seeking an invitation for the queen."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/europe /28queen.html?_r=2

[jake-the-peg]

it was hard to know whether quiet pressure from the Americans could convince the French that the Queen should attend and that her presence would not detract from that of Mr Obama himself.

So that would be convincing the French for her to come but the French (obviously embaressed) are saying "Well it was up to you to pass on the invitation"

As for Margaret Thatcher - I think we all know that loyalty in the Tory party is pretty hard to find. They didn't even let IDS fight an election before they binned him!

And now you have Cameron swanning around going on about the need to "reform the rules" as if up to a month ago he had no earthly idea what those rules were!

[Whoever]

The Queen is our Head of State, not Gordon Brown, and it would have entirely appropriate for her to have represented our country at these celebrations. Gordon Brown is too anxious to grab the limelight to try and boost his ailing poll ratings. Unfortunately in this case, he has done severe damage to himself and in the process, insulted the remaining D Day veterans as the Queen is the Head of the Armed Services.
I am embarrassed to have this man represent my country at any international event.

[sp1814]

I wonder if the Queen could go as Barack's 'plus one'?

I mean, if Michelle's busy on they day, I don't see what the problem would be.

[coccinelle]

Isn't Prince Charles coming over now then?

[Grizelda43]

Yes, Prince Charles is going, but only because the Queen has her engagement diary filled up 6 months in advance. Our failing PM knew this, and it was his decision that HM would not attend. You are quite right, he is trying to steal the limelight and shine the spotlight anywhere but in the direction of MPs' expenses.