Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Awkward!

Wait for your cue...

According to ABC News' Jake Tapper, who is traveling with President Barack Obama in England, things didn't go as planned at tonight's state dinner in London.

"When the president toasted the Queen the orchestra misunderstood a pause and what seemed to be a cue from the president for “God Save the Queen” to begin playing," Tapper reports. "'Ladies and gentlemen please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast,' the president said, putting down his note cards and grabbing his glass. 'To her majesty the Queen.'”

Tapper adds, "The president paused, the guests stood, and the orchestra prepared to play. But the president wasn’t done speaking. 'The vitality –' the president said before the orchestra began. Then the familiar tune – you might know it better as 'My Country ‘Tis of Thee” – started up.

President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip pose for photographers prior to a dinner hosted by the queen at Buckingham Palace Tuesday evening...


"The president kept going: ' -- of the special relationship between our peoples and for the words of Shakespeare to this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,' the president said as the awkward moment played out," Tapper notes. "The Queen looked ahead as the UK anthem played. 'To the Queen,' the president finally said. He lifted his glass to her, she smiled a bit uncomfortably."

Tapper concludes his report: "It almost felt like one of those moments at the Academy Awards when the speech from the recipient for Best Original Screenplay goes on too long and the orchestra tries to hustle him or her off the stage. Kind of weird."

Weird, indeed.




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