General Discussion

EffieBlack

(14,249 posts)

34. This reminds me a lovely, but heartbreaking story about Jacqueline Kennedy

Sat Jul 14, 2018, 07:06 PM

Jul 2018

Before John and Jacqueline Kennedy met Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in 1961, Mrs. Kennedy asked Angier Biddle Duke, the Chief of Protocol, whether she should curtsy. Duke told her, "No. You're the wife of a head of state and heads of state and their wives don't go around bowing and curtsying to each other."

Two years later, after President Kennedy's funeral, Mrs. Kennedy received guests in the family quarters. Prince Phillip was among them (Queen Elizabeth didn't attend the funeral because she was very pregnant). When Prince Phillip approached Mrs. Kennedy, she dropped him a curtsy. Ambassador Duke, who was standing nearby, was shocked because, he said, she rarely got her protocol wrong.

Noting the surprised look on Duke's face, Mrs. Kennedy whispered to him, "But Angie, I am no longer the wife of a head of state."

Duke said he had to excuse himself to go to another room to weep, the first time he cried after the assassination.

That story still makes me cry.

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41 replies

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He can courtesy to the Saudi King but not bow to the English Queen? [View all] Soph0571 Jul 2018 OP

Huh? whathehell Jul 2018 #1

Not required, no. GaYellowDawg Jul 2018 #23

No, and whathehell Jul 2018 #25

Fair enough. GaYellowDawg Jul 2018 #26

Ok, cool. n/t whathehell Jul 2018 #29

It is not appropriate for heads of state (or their spouses) to formally bow and curtsy to each other EffieBlack Jul 2018 #31

Feckless Fucked Up Wanker! He Bullied Cha Jul 2018 #2

You know the Brits took notice mcar Jul 2018 #24

Yeah, like they didn't loathe the wanker Cha Jul 2018 #39

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2018 #3

He's not gonna bow to a woman. bitterross Jul 2018 #4

I'm not sure Americans are expected to "bow" or "curtsy" whathehell Jul 2018 #9

You are correct. No head of state should do that for another actually. bitterross Jul 2018 #13

That's right.. whathehell Jul 2018 #18

I wondered the same thing... CTyankee Jul 2018 #19

Obama bowed. n/t Horse with no Name Jul 2018 #21

They both shook hands with her csziggy Jul 2018 #22

I don't know, whathehell Jul 2018 #32

I think we are ALL Anglophiles here, in a way, after this disgraceful performance by our CTyankee Jul 2018 #36

Well then, we may as well all become Germanophiles, too whathehell Jul 2018 #38

Me, too. CTyankee Jul 2018 #40

Interesting, because I went to Europe during the Bush years as well whathehell Jul 2018 #41

Correct, Americans don't bow. braddy Jul 2018 #30

This reminds me a lovely, but heartbreaking story about Jacqueline Kennedy EffieBlack Jul 2018 #34

Can't stand the fool, but he's under no obligation to bow to her. phylny Jul 2018 #12

Of course, you are correct. bitterross Jul 2018 #14

It's okay. I enjoyed the bloviating. phylny Jul 2018 #15

Shit PatSeg Jul 2018 #5

buttoned jacket would show his widening girth. pansypoo53219 Jul 2018 #6

Leaving it open and flapping around PatSeg Jul 2018 #7

The so-called billionaire wears off the rack ill fitting suits, many say SammyWinstonJack Jul 2018 #8

I wouldn't be surprised PatSeg Jul 2018 #10

Ah, but never forget! BlueMTexpat Jul 2018 #11

Curtsy. WillowTree Jul 2018 #16

Bow to the English queen? oberliner Jul 2018 #17

No Soph0571 Jul 2018 #20

Yes. whathehell Jul 2018 #28

whoa! forgot about that heaven05 Jul 2018 #27

he was rude for walking in front of her - but he did not keep her waiting - he arrived DrDan Jul 2018 #33

I might give a polite tip of my head like I do when shaking hands at a formal introduction GulfCoast66 Jul 2018 #35

After being stationed in Japan for... 3catwoman3 Jul 2018 #37