Hillary Clinton faux pas over Queen's birthday greeting
The US State Department has been left red-cheeked after sending birthday greetings to the Queen a week early.
The diplomatic faux pas was admitted by spokesman PJ Crowley, who said: "Better a week early than a week late."
The message from US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on behalf of President Obama also honoured the "special relationship" between the US and UK.
Buckingham Palace said no offence had been taken, and that it had been a "genuine mistake".
In the premature message, Mrs Clinton said: "On this celebratory occasion, we pay tribute to the Queen's life and legacy and honour the special relationship between our two nations.
The statement noted how, "the young Princess Elizabeth helped rally her nation in the darkest days of that war, and she has remained a beacon of integrity and resolve ever since".
It said: "The United States has always been grateful for her friendship and example. Once again, I wish Queen Elizabeth II a very happy birthday and peace and prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom in the year to come."
The Queen's actual birthday is on 21 April - she turned 84 this year - but British monarchs celebrate a second "official" birthday on a Saturday in June decided by the government, this year on 12 June, culminating with the annual Trooping the Colour parade.
Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
What, she's still alive!? That's enough to celebrate!
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
And even you don’t care.
Right?
Right?
A sufficiently copious dose of bombast drenched in verbose writing is lethal to the truth.
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
Well, it's not like I was invited.
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
We have the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend coming up next weekend.
Despite it not being her birthday, I will bake a cake for the dear ol' Madge anyway.
Despite it not being her birthday, I will bake a cake for the dear ol' Madge anyway.
Last edited by The Hen on Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bah!
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
I love the fact that it's a public holiday here but not in the UK. 
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
OK, if the birthday girl isn't there, who do you throw confetti at?
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
Wedding parties usually... 
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
Talking of Rice, whatever became of Condolezza?loCAtek wrote:-G- Not Rice?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
The last month or so, she has been doing primary campaign ads for one of the candidates for Governor of California...
Re: Early Birthday to you, Early birthday to you
She's been doing the talk circuit much too; she's always a speaker at some seminar or other.