I have a theory, and yes it’s that the Queen is low-key shady AF.
While most people see a sweet lady who loved her royal corgis (RIP) and likes to play with her great-grandchildren, I see a woman who has had enough.
Of all of it.
Of being around for 93 years and having to put up with everyone’s sh*t.
Of having a new prime minister to deal with every 1-10 years.
Of Donald Trump.
Of loud noises and meeting new people and everyone complaining.
All she wants to do is yell 'OMG EVERYONE SHUT UP I JUST WANT TO CHILL IN SANDRINGHAM AND WATCH LIKE EIGHT SEASONS OF KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS WITH NO ONE BOTHERING ME,' but she can't. Because she's literally the Queen. And that means she has responsibilities. Expectations. Duties.
So, in recent years it appears she's turned those duties into subtle ways to throw shade wherever she wants.
Watch: The Queen's etiquette rules in real life. Post continues after video.
In fact, on Tuesday (London time), a photographer snapped an image that has everyone convinced the Queen is not happy with her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle.
In a photo with the High Commissioner for Grenada, Lakisha Grant, people who spend too much time on the Internet (me) observed a sneaky detail in the background. Where once the Queen had placed a wedding portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, there was now nothing there, instead showcasing the portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that had sat behind it.
Here's the saga, explained in images:
DID THE QUEEN BURN IT BECAUSE MEGHAN AND HARRY ARE BEING COOL YOUNG ROYALS WITH THEIR INSTAGRAM AND THEIR DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HOW ROYAL LIFE IS AFFECTING THEM? IS THIS FURTHER CONFIRMATION OF A ROYAL RIFT? DID A CLEANER JUST ACCIDENTALLY KNOCK IT OVER AND BREAK IT AND TRIED TO HIDE THE EVIDENCE BUT NOW THE WHOLE WORLD IS BLAMING THE QUEEN?
We will perhaps definitely never know.
But the disappearance and/or disposal of Meghan and Harry's wedding portrait - which may or may not have been intentional, but is far more entertaining if it is - has us thinking about all the other shade the Queen has thrown in recent years.
So let's take a walk down memory lane:
From the moment President Trump arrived in Britain for his visit with the Queen in 2018, she gave zero f*cks.
When the President and First Lady landed on the grounds of Buckingham Palace in their helicopter, she didn't even come to greet them. Which would've been fine, except that she had enthusiastically greeted Barack and Michelle Obama back in 2016.
Then... there were her brooches.
On the first day of the Trumps' visit, she wore a green brooch gifted to her by the Obamas to honour their friendship.
On the second day, she wore a silver brooch IN THE SHAPE OF A SNOWFLAKE given to her by Canada, who Trump had been highly critical of at the time.
Then, on the third day, she wore a brooch best known for being worn by the Queen Mother to the funeral of King George VI. AKA, a sad brooch. Not a happy brooch.
She was undoubtedly throwing the most subtle kind of shade: brooch shade.
Speaking of Trump and shade...
The brooches didn't send a strong enough message, so the Queen also wore a crown with a special meaning during a state banquet for the Trumps held at the Palace.
Sitting beside President Trump looking... disapproving, the Queen wore a very distinctive Burmese Ruby Tiara, containing rubies that were given to her as a wedding gift from the people of Burma (which is now Myanmar).
The rubies, according to traditional Burmese beliefs, are meant to protect their owner from evil.
Like the evil sitting next to her.
In 2016, at the opening of British Parliament after the Brexit referendum, the Queen wore a very pointed outfit.
The outcome of the Brexit vote signified the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. So the Queen obviously went to parliament dressed... as the European Union.
But actually.
For reference:
HER HAT EVEN HAS YELLOW DOTS ON IT.
In 2003, the then Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia came to visit the Queen at Balmoral.
Of course, it wasn't until 2018 that women were granted the right to drive in Saudi Arabia. So while the Queen did wear a silk head covering as a sign of respect to the Crown Prince, she wasn't as understanding about his perspective on women's right to drive.
Offering to give him a tour of Balmoral, the Crown Prince took a seat in the front of the car, but didn't expect the Queen to get in the driver's seat. It's reported that it was the first time he had ever sat next to a female driver, and he pleaded with her to pay attention to the road because she was talking to him the whole time.
Does the Queen have a licence? No.
Does she legally need one? Also no.
She served with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II and served as an army driver, so she's more than qualified, but still. She was definitely, 100 per cent, just a 'lil bit throwing shade.
When you're the Queen, you get to train your staff to understand your shade.
In an interview with People dating back to 2011, royal historian Hugo Vickers explained that the Queen has handbag signals that indicate to her staff when she's done with a conversation.
If she puts her bag on the table at dinner, it means she wants to leave in five minutes (omg same). If she puts her handbag on the floor, it means the conversation is boring.
“It would be very worrying if you were talking to the Queen and saw the handbag move from one hand to the other,” Vickers told People. “You see, this is a signal the Queen uses to indicate to her staff that she is ready to wrap up her current conversation.”
GURL.
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Top Comments
You're reading too much into the photo thing. The first photo (with George Brandis) also shows a different photo behind the Harry and Meghan one (to the left of the red lamp), she obviously changes all the photos from time to time. But I really love the idea of the Queen scaring the shit out of the Saudi Crown Prince while driving him around.
Huh... Her wisdom isn’t petty. Why are you classifying a strong elderly woman as petty just because she removed Harry and Meghans photo? Especially when in the next breath you are all over her actions in regard very important matters like women’s rights, Brexit and Trump. Maybe take a deep breath and accept her insider perspective may be extremely telling... Or it may just mean absolutely nothing.