The Queen Looked Miserable at the Olympics

[Le Pop]

I thought the opening ceremony was fantastic, and now I am looking forward to a great Olympics.

The only downer - shouldn't somebody have told the Queen to smile, just for a couple of seconds while she was on camera? She looked miserable as sin. If she's so fed up with being the monarch at such a special event, maybe it's time to handover to the next generation.

[Le Pop]

I know people older than 86 who can smile for a couple of seconds, even if it is just wind! I know she is "marvellous", I just think she could have made a special effort, knowing the eyes of the world are on her.

[Le Pop]

I know all that, I just think somebody on the TV production team could've tipped her the wink that she should smile at the given moment.

[Le Pop]

The thing is, I am a fan of the royals. I just wish she would present a little more positivity. It was the same at the jubilee concert IIRC.

[Le Pop]

Parabola said:

Le Pop said:

...just for a couple of seconds while she was on camera...

You expect her to grin like a loon for the entire four hour ceremony? There were probably cameras pointing at her for the entire event.

Erm, the clue is in my post. She's a massive potential PR benefit to this country (and has proved that for many years), but at the jubilee concert and the opening ceremony she looked miserable when on camera. As I said in my original post (and at the risk of getting flamed again), couldn't somebody responsible for PR have prodded her when the TV cameras were on her and suggested she at least pretended she was enjoying herself and was proud of what was being presented? I'm sure she was tired, or unwell or similar and we can all sympathise with that, I think the failing is with the PR people and the TV people, not with her maj as I certainly don't expect her to grin inanely for 3 or 4 hours.

[Le Pop]

I was particularly referring to the TV coverage, but I do think you'll struggle to find a picture of her in this dress where she is actually smiling...

[Le Pop]

andymadmak said:

...Do you honestly think her "PR Person" has an earpiece, into which every camerman and screen editor is yelling "...and cutting to her Maj in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!" so that said PR Person can nudge her Maj to be ready with a smile each time?

Why not? I bet Obama does.

And it's not 'every cameraman', just the director of the internationally-broadcast TV image.

[Le Pop]

shakotan said:

You're saying that the Queen, who has been brought up and thoroughly immersed in traditional values and ceremony, who is the absolute Premier of the country, who has every single person bowing and curtseying to her every need and command, would agree to wear an EARPIECE during a public engagement, so that she could take INSTRUCTION from some Director telling her when and where to smile!?

An earpiece is a stretch, I agree. Maybe just wave a big sign in front of her that says "You are on TV to billions of people round the world, you might consider trying to look a bit cheerful please"

And you are out of your tiny fkcuing mind if you think it's not perceived round the world as a negative reflection of the UK if she looks so miserable...