For those who remember the outrage which followed Australia’s then-Prime Minister Paul Keating touching the British monarch in an overly familiar manner ten years ago, this week’s photographs of Canadian sportsman Louis Garneau posing with his arm casually wrapped round Queen Elizabeth’s shoulders seemed nothing short of incredible.
The close encounter came during a walkabout following an official Golden Jubilee lunch on Monday as part of the Queen’s tour of Canada. Forty-four-year-old former cycling champion Louis, who holds the Order of Canada, asked if he could pose with the royal guest, and then, as his wife prepared to record the moment for the family album, committed the ultimate faux pas by placing his arm around her.
While courtiers were apparently shocked by the cheeky incident, the Queen herself seemed remarkably unfazed by the gesture and kept smiling throughout. According to royal protocol the monarch should not be touched at all, apart from the traditionally proffered handshake.
“The Queen accepts that people do get excited when they meet her and she makes allowances for the fact that their excitement can take them beyond the bounds of a handshake,” said a royal aid.
When informed of his breach of etiquette, Louis said: “The last time I met the Queen was in 1982 at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. It was good to see her again. I hope I haven’t done anything wrong. I asked for a picture and she agreed, so I just put my arm round her shoulder. In sport we do that all the time.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
