Q: What Do I Have in Common with the Queen of England? A: Michelle Obama Hugged Us Both

I love the fact that England is atwitter about Michelle's hugging faux pas. Apparently, during a photo op, our First Lady unintentionally breached protocol when she reached around the royal back and gave a classic all-American US Weekly pose for the photogs.

And now the Brits are aghast. "Those colonists," you can almost hear them muttering. "No sense of formality or manners."

Well, yeah. And frankly that's exactly what makes us such good partners and such good shake-off-the-mothballs friends for the Europeans. Despite the fact that half the countries at the G-20 summit are convinced capitalism is dead (and p.s. that it's all our fault!), there are plenty of Brits who, deciding that their own culture suffocates ambition and innovation, skedaddle across the Atlantic to places like New York to make it big. In the media business alone I'm thinking of boldface names like Tina Brown, Harry Evans, Anna Wintour. But there are big swingin' Brits all over America.

The reason these folks make it in America is not just that we tend to mistake even a lower-class accent for something upper-class (our ears have not been trained to detect the difference), but because there are no barriers here to ambition.

What Americans have to offer is a genuineness and authenticity -- and an everyone-is-treated-equal sensibility that is exemplified in that hug.

And Michelle is totally authentic. When More shot her for our October 2008 cover last summer, I recall being struck by her absolute down-to-earthness. We chatted for an hour while she had her makeup and hair done -- about the upcoming election, about our kids, about what we both hoped for America. In between cover shots I asked her if she'd mind doing a quick photo for my editor's letter. Since she was game, I slid quickly into the picture (sans hair and makeup). Realizing she was a full head taller than me -- which left my head tucked neatly into her armpit -- the photographer brought out a box for me to stand on. Then had to pause to change cameras. While we stood there waiting, I suddenly felt this arm around my shoulder and it gave me a little squeeze. Looking around, I realized it was Michelle. I don't think she could help it; it's what our writer remarked in the opening lines of the October piece, that "Michelle is a hugger." And I believe it's that authenticity and lack of pretense that draws each one of us to her. (A woman in my book club last night admitted that, "Michelle is my new girl crush"!)

So: Sorry, Lizzie. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Obamas is that they still want to attend basketball games and have a beer with the crowds; they still eat out at the restaurants they personally prefer. And like that famous Englishman Henry Higgins, Our Fair Lady treats everyone the same -- a duchess like a flowergirl and a flowergirl like a duchess. That's the beauty of everything American, in personal life as well as in business. Memo to our friends the Brits: You can't have it both ways.

(Photo credit: Matthew Rolston)

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Comments

[Yola]

Another memo to the Brits :-) , you can't have her, she is ours :-)

[larose501]

They really do drone on about her fashionsand it is surprising how mean and cruel some folks can be. .She's real and doesn't squander the publics money
Michelle Obama could really set off her wardrobe if she finished her look with TGee Designs of Chgo.
http://stores.homestead.com/TGeeDesigns/-strse-Necklaces/Categories.bok

[joceeco]

Nice Piece! The picture is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bitsko]

Hot stuff, ladies!

[Aesthete]

This non-issue is only important to Obama haters.

[hulagirrrl]

Mrs. Obama is alright, and on this picture her hair looks really great.

[Melodygrl]

HUG ME MICHELLE

www.LifeforBrains.blogspot.com

-Melodygrl : )

[TumTiTum]

No one doubts the quaint charm of the exchange, but what would the Queen be, other than gracious, to the wife of one of her guests at an official function she's hosting as Head of State in her own Palace in the capital of a nation she's ruled as monarch for fifty-seven years of her eighty-two?
Michelle was gracious with you, the Queen with her.
The term is Noblesse Oblige.

[nubret2008]

"And now the Brits are aghast. "Those colonists," you can almost hear them muttering. "

Actually whole Europe is in love with Michelle Obama - And: Here in germany a new poll stated that 80 % of Germans approve President Obama's policies. Almost the same number wishes to have a politician like him here.

The only one who is aghast are the US-Republicans

[Crissy Patters]

From the news reports, only a few conservatives had a problem with the hug, after the palace released a report that the Queen initiated the hug and protocol wasn't broken. I'm thrilled the Queen and FL hit it off, not surprise but thrilled.

[Daisy69]

Who ARE these Brits grumbling about "colonists, formality and manners" you speak of?!
Might be relevant to some super-annuated colonels in the 'shires' but doesn't sound like anyone I know aged under 45 and living in the city. Can we get away from articles based on lazy national stereotyping that doesn't do anyone any good, pleeeeese?

[peacekitten]

please try to keep up.

the palace issued a statement that made it very plain that no protocol had been breached. end of story.

michelle is the wife of the president of the united states. our first lady. she doesn't even curtsy to the queen.

the two of them were obviously taken with one another.

the only people whose feathers seem to be ruffled over the whole thing are those for whom it's none of their business.

[Crissy Patters]

I shall reply with a thank you, well said.

[klondiker]

While I agree with your general sentiment about the hug issue, I don't think you should start bashing British culture wholesale. The whole "Old, Stodgy Britain" and "Vibrant, Innovative America" is too Bush-ian. And, besides, as videos have shown, it was the Queen who actually hugged Michelle first.

So, my take on this is: no protocol was broken. No traditions were trampled on. The Queen felt a genuine moment of connection with Michelle and reached out, and Michelle being the warm, generous person she is, reciprocated.

[icemilkcoffee]

Amen! The Queen has her protocol. We americans have our protocols too. We hug. I am glad the Queen has no problem adapting to our hugging protocol. Only the Faux news airheads hyperventilate over this.

[emolik16]

take it from a 56 yr old white hetero dude from Detroit - Mrs Obama is absolutely adorable

[Dana Nicole]

I need a hug too Michelle..­.