Two diplomats used smartphones to film Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom while she delivered a solemn D-Day anniversary speech, prompting jeers on social media over the breach of etiquette.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Woody Johnson and Czech Republic Ambassador to the U.K. Libor Secka were among several dignitaries sitting behind the queen as she delivered a tribute to World War II Allied forces on Wednesday, the eve of D-Day’s 75th anniversary.
Johnson, 72, owner of the New York Jets, was seen on live television taking out his cellphone and filming the queen from behind for several seconds. Shortly after, Secka glanced over to Johnson and then copied him, filming the queen.
“Simply unbelievable that dignitaries including the American ambassador to the UK @woodyjohnson4 think it acceptable to be filming the Queen when HM is making a speech about the “heroism, courage and sacrifice of those that lost their lives” in the #DD75 landings. Disgraceful,” Russell Myers, royal editor of the left-wing Daily Mirror, said.
Simply unbelievable that dignitaries including the American ambassador to the UK @woodyjohnson4 think it acceptable to be filming the Queen when HM is making a speech about the “heroism, courage and sacrifice of those that lost their lives” in the #DD75 landings. Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/nPLi2z3BoI
— Russell Myers (@rjmyers) June 5, 2019
“Hang on a second?! Is that the US ambassador sitting behind the Queen filming her speech like teenager at a gig? Trump really does surround himself with people completely lacking class,” Harry Wallop of the conservative Daily Telegraph tweeted.
Hang on a second?! Is that the US ambassador sitting behind the Queen filming her speech like teenager at a gig?
Trump really does surround himself with people completely lacking class. https://t.co/AH1ucNTSUu— Harry Wallop (@hwallop) June 5, 2019
Other U.K. citizens piled on, targeting Johnson especially, in large part because no one could work out who Secka was; several speculated he was Canada’s high commissioner, and one Twitter user referred to him as “2nd bloke (yet to be identified).”
Honoured? You were a disgrace filming the Queen whilst she was speaking! No manners. No respect.
— Sue Major (@SueMajor7) June 5, 2019
Now that’s a suitable Tweet for today. See, you CAN do it when you try. Now review the footage of your Ambassador,Woody Johnson, filming Her Majesty The Queen from behind during her speech (very bad etiquette) & take him home with you. We don’t want him in UK any more. #DDay75
— John Dunne ♿ (@safc4ever) June 5, 2019
Despite criticism focusing on Johnson, a wider shot of the crowd behind the queen reveals at least seven others filming her while she began her speech.
Johnson’s blunder falls into a long tradition of American officials breaking standards of etiquette when dealing with a member of the British royal court, especially the queen.
Earlier in the week, President Trump broke protocol twice during a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Trump clinked glasses with Queen Elizabeth after she invited him to deliver a toast at the banquet, and later touched her shoulder, two acts not proper for the time and occasion. The queen took the lapses in stride, smiling throughout the event.
In 2009, then First Lady Michelle Obama committed a similar blunder, touching the queen’s back while the two exchanged greetings. Former President Barack Obama has his own list of gaffes and breaches of etiquette. In 2011, Barack Obama continued speaking while the band played “God Save the Queen” after his toast at a royal banquet.
