Princewill Pius
In 2019, a decade after the embrace seen ’round the world, Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth’s personal assistant and senior dresser, discussed the incident in her memoir, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe.
“There are certain things that are understood to be accepted protocol when it comes to interacting with Her Majesty,” she wrote, according to an excerpt obtained by Hello! magazine. “Supposedly, you should never put your arm around the Queen, for example, but when human instincts kick in, sometimes this is absolutely the appropriate thing to do.”
Kelly added that it was evident that Michelle Obama and the queen had an emotional connection, and when that occurs, royal protocol is not as important as friendship. “Much has been made about the meeting between Michelle and Her Majesty, when an instant and mutual warmth was shared between these two remarkable women, and protocol was seemingly ‘abandoned’ as they stood closely with their arms around each other’s backs,” she wrote, adding that Queen Elizabeth was happy to return the gesture.
“In reality, it was a natural instinct for the Queen to show affection and respect for another great woman, and really there is no protocol that must be adhered to,” Angela continued. “When fondness is felt or the host of a State Visit goes to guide Her Majesty up some steps, it truly is about human kindness, and this is something the Queen will always welcome warmly.”
Written by: Nicki
