The Queen gets an IPOD. . .. again

Jackson · 2 Apr 2009, 07:38

I saw a documentary once, something to do with the staff and diplomats whose job it is to organise anything to do with state visits, etc. They showed a room in one of Her Maj's residences filled with the most incredibly awful (but extremely expensive of course) trinkets every one of which was an official gift from visiting dignitaries and weddings presents. It was ludicrous- imagine 95% of your wedding, birthday and Christmas presents during your whole life were

a) very expensive.... but non-exchangeable or refundable.
b) specifically associated with the homeland of the giver... I mean how many samovars, lacquered boxes, boomerangs, etc can you use?
c) pretty ugly.... unless you like the gold, gem-encrusted, fur-lined variety of ornament. (Hmmm... they probably do)

No wonder the rich just keep getting richer. They should auction it all off and donate the proceeds to charity (the British economy?) Having seen the cr*p they normally receive (and in light of the world's financial problems right now), maybe the iPod was actually pretty sensible... she can at least pass it on to one of her staff. Though that might cause a diplomatic scandal.... "Regiftgate".

david_h · 2 Apr 2009, 14:14

Can you see HRH going into a Walmart?
Service Desk: *I'm sorry Your Majesty. . .without a receipt we can't give you cash back on this IPOD. the best we can do is a store credit. . .. Oh wait. . .it's been engraved. . .Happy Birthday Maleesha. ...oooooh! Ouch.

Re-gifted! Sorry. .. I'm afraid you're stuck with this one, Your Majesty. Could I interest you in a sale we are having on Jewel Encrusted Boomerangs?*

Daniel · 2 Apr 2009, 18:03

Now your being ridiculous, David. The Queen would never go to Walmart. She'd hand that task off to the Lord Chamberlain, who would hand it off to the chief footman, who would hand it off to a junior footman, who would hand it off to a scullery maid.

david_h · 2 Apr 2009, 19:03

Not if she wanted to be certain of getting her store credit!!!

Alan Fraser · 3 Apr 2009, 07:36

He should have given her a Royal Wii.

mawo0 · 3 Apr 2009, 07:45

@unknownuser said:

So our President is in London and Presents her Most Royal Majesty with a gift that indeed worthy of another head of State. An IPOD.

Queen: Oh. . . thank you. We are most pleased. (to herself) What the he* is this? What do I look like--his niece? Besides. . I already got one of these. and Mine is Gold!*

Obama: (looking flustered) Well that's uh . . .that's not all!

Michelle: Uh . . .no! See we also got you a pair of sketchers and the latest Hannah Montana DVD!

Queen: Oh... well... thanks anyway...

Michelle: Ooohhhh there is no reason to be like that... there, there...come on.. it's all right now...

PeterCharles · 3 Apr 2009, 10:27

@alan fraser said:

He should have given her a Royal Wii.

david_h · 3 Apr 2009, 13:57

Putting your arm on the Royal Person without invitation is about as welcome as giving the German Chancellor a massage!

Stephen · 3 Apr 2009, 14:28

Yeh, an ipod does seem odd, but what did the Queen give to Obama? A picture of herself and her husband! I'd take the ipod any day.

Stephen

Alan Fraser · 3 Apr 2009, 14:43

She probably thought “If we require music, we already have a suitable device; it’s called the Band of the Coldstream Guards. It comes in full 3D colour with surround-sound and is extremely portable too.”