Obamas And Queen Audio: Listen To The Awkward Exchange (VIDEO)

The photos of the Obamas meeting with the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh have appeared on almost every major news website by now, but little attention has been given to what they actually said to each other. In what can only be deemed an awkward exchange, President Obama describes his day to the Queen, they discuss jet lag and Michelle Obama says she's less busy than her husband, which draws the Duke of Edinburgh to remark, "I'm the same way". President Obama also assures the Queen that he didn't "nod off" in any of his meetings.

We have two videos below that clearly play the audio. Listen in and have a cheery-chuckle!

Compiled by Katharine Zaleski

Comments

[Alma Nilo-Thomas]

I admire the Queen and Michelle. This is the first time I see the queen reaching to shake someone's hand, also, this is the first time I get to see her royal hands (smile) she always wears her white gloves. Way to go Michelle for showig the queen how Americans really are... down to Earth and not stiffed hippocrits. How past ladies did it is not important, this is today, this is now and this is the Obama's.

[Erica Watson-Currie]

Doesn't it look like Obama is bowing to HRH at beginning? I tho't we (Americans) specifically Didn't DO that.

[Doris]

OF course it's awkward - there are all those photographers in the room. they all seemed to be enjoying themselves considering. Pleasant enough.

[NonaG]

Everyone in the world knows the American character and to me the Obamas are very American ... the best of America I should add.

Nothing about them was inappropriate. The way Mrs. O dresses flouts expectations and shows individuality. The ipod gift shows sense of humor and confidence and the touch/hug shows warmth and humanity. Tell me, what could be more American?

[Tom123]

What happend to the Queen? It looks like you forgot to get dressed for the meeting. She sure could use to help with your clothes

[boredwell]

Hey, Michelle looks American. And dresses like one. Casual, contemporary, personal, colorful and fun. She stood out in the crowd of 1st spouses that's for sure. Especially with the towering new do. I wasn't fond of the too casual royal audience outfit...that sweater, yeah!...she coulda done better for sure. Was it another faux pas for her to have coopted HRM's pearls, too? But as for the argyle thingie, I thought it was pretty cool. She's got a weakness for sparkles: it's HER thing so she shouldn't stifle it. If one were to constantly assess one's wardrobe, worrying about the anatomical merits of each outfit, I daresay no one would ever leave the house. That's why I like Michelle's style. She looks like she dashed in, and dashed out without too much fussing or mussing. Michelle reminds me of my own busy, often harried, professional mother in that taking care of business is more important than puttin on the Ritz (ie, MIchelle's hastily misbuttoned cardigan). Michelle's a breath of fresh air.

[jick]

Isn't Michelle supposed to curtsy or something before approaching the queen? If so, good for her. The queen is just another person.

[karvictho]

Curtsying is not expected when you are not part of the British realm. So no, Michelle wasn't supposed to curtsy.

[Serge Mouegue]

Heeeeeeeeeeey, where are we? in which century are we? What are the differences betweens the Queen and Michelle OBAMA? Yes, Queen has more money than Michelle OBAMA. Queen doesn't paid tax and she earns more money. Common, we are in 2009 and you still think like this?

So if you think like this, don't blain the traditionel Kind and Queen that Africa has. Don't say is not democratic every time that we speak about traditional African Kind. Go a way with this stupid protocol. I really like the Queen, I lived in London for about 3 years. The Queen and the royal familly is good for the tourism, but don't piss people with this stupid protocol: We cannot touch the Queen, very funny, common.

[lubilu]

Actually I think they'd probably have a lot to talk about - I bet President Obama rarely meets someone who has visited Kenya as often as the Queen has or who knows more about African affairs through her role as head of the Commonwealth ; she has also apparently met every American President since Truman with the exception of LBJ. Her first Prime Minister was Churchill, Hitler called her mother 'the most dangerous woman in Europe'.

Obama obviously has a real interest in history and if I were him I would have taken the opportunity to just ask her questions - there is no one in the world who has met more world leaders and probably few who have travelled more throughout their lives. And she has eight grandchildren ranging in age from toddler to about 30 (one of whom has a tongue stud) so I hardly think she's going to be freaked out by an Ipod.

[Diana]

Only in the current MSM environment would this conversation be considered 'awkward.' What do you think other heads of state actually talk about with royalty--the latest fashion?! Think bush and the Mrs. talked about Shakespeare?

Who writes these headlines, anyway? Certainly not a journalistic effort.

[Gmoney1]

President Obama's grandmother was in the age bracket as the Queen - he was so very respectful of her position and age -

[myklwain]

the racist narrative expands.

[richdoll]

funny not one media outlet is reporting the queen ask for an ipod..
a non story. she was thrilled with the obamas

[smarttart001]

HuffPo I adore you...but there wasn't any "awkwardness" about that exchange.

The word is "Polite."

[CommonSenseMom]

I agree. The exchange was appropriate.

[eminent]

Agreed, as a half-brit, taking into consideration protocol and they are guests of the Queen in her house, this is about a relaxed as it gets.it would be like not accepting the "necklace" of welcome flowers in Hawai

[breakingpoint]

boy oh boy some jobs have hall the perks!

what did this trip cost the tax payers?

why didn't they just do a video conference call, we have the technology?

it's stuff like this that spawns conspiracies

regardless the whole thing is rather creepy

a representative of the free people paying homage to a bunch of barbarous outdated and prejudice blood lines

notice how Philip kept his distance from Michelle

these are the people who hoard the wealth and have kept nations in poverty for centuries

[vgirl1]

How myopic you are. Diplomacy takes face to face meeting and discussion.

This is particularly true in this instance when so many of these leaders have never met President Obama and he has not met so many of them. Are you angry that his trip has been so successful?

You never seemed to care when Bush made all of his trips and embarrassed the "heck" out of our nation while he was on the world stage. His tenure would have been a good time for teleconferencing then maybe we wouldn't have had to be so embarrassed by his antics.

Actually Bush should have traveled and talked more with foreign leaders instead of staying at home and lecturing from his "pulpit".

Welcome to the new world of 21st Century diplomacy. We know it is foreign, but try to understand.

[genia]

nothing...but nothing was a bigger waste of taxpayer money then AF1 flying back and forth form Wash. to Crawford....in a loop..non stop ...for 8 fri g gin years.

[breakingpoint]

"You never seemed to care when Bush made all of his trips and embarrassed th"

What? You're either completely clueless or a blanat liar.

Explain this to me, why is it when someone says anything that doesn't flatter Obama so many here automatically associate that person with being a republican or Bush supporter?

Why is it that the same small minded bullshits taht came from so many republicans spew out of the fingers of so many clueless people like you?

The only thing your democratic ilk dose is alienate free thinking independent voters.
Your DNC kind are no better than the RNC butt licker.

And you talk about diplomacy - Grow some yourself!

I'm a US citizen and it's my civic duty, as it is all, to watch what these politicians spend when it comes to tax payer money. They are Administrators not Kings or gods, but maybe that's what you're into.

As far as meeting all the world leaders, fly coach and meet in some humble abode.
All the pomp and circumstance is a waste especially, when so man people are living in tents, on food stamps with no job.

And then people wonder why the crooked Bankers don't give a ratsass about what you think when government spends more on worse.

The reason we are in this mess is because people like you didn't do their civic job.

[wmfor]

Bush embarrassed us? No way. He would have put the Queen at ease by giving her a neck massage.

[mlaiuppa]

Okay. I didn't hear any "awkwardness". In fact, it seemed like a warm, friendly exchange considering these two couples don't know each other. To me it looked like the only awkwardness was the queen having to direct everyone into the photo op when she really just wanted to sit with them and have a little chat. To me, she seemed impatient to have them sit down with her so they could talk. Having to take time out to pose for the picture seemed the only awkwardness I saw.