Did Princess Anne really snub US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 3 December 2019?
Queen Elizabeth hosted the reception to welcome Heads of State and Government of NATO countries to mark 70 years of the Alliance.
The Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla greeted NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the leaders of the Alliance’s 29 member countries and their spouses or partners in the Music Room.
The Princess Royal, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also welcomed their guests.
The reception itself was held in the Green Drawing Room.
The North Atlantic Treaty, or the Washington Treaty, forms the basis of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Organisation).
Twelve founding members signed the Treaty on 4 April 1949.
The NATO alliance now consists of 29 states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark
According to reports, the Princess Royal snubbed US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania.
THIS 👇🏻👇🏻is why it’s so important that there’s a royal rota to record what ACTUALLY happens and not what the internet/online news websites think happens… https://t.co/XyBudAh8l6
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) December 4, 2019
However, The Times journalist Valentine Low sets the record straight, acknowledging his source, Laura Elston from the Press Association.
‘OK, here goes… Princess Anne: the truth. No, she didn’t snub the Trumps. And she wasn’t told off by the Queen.’
Anne raised her hands in the air, laughed and said: “It’s just me,” adding a moment later “and this lot” as she pointed to the members of the household behind her.
3/5— Valentine Low (@valentinelow) December 4, 2019
‘Instead, the Queen, after greeting the Donald (and the Melania), turned to Anne to see who was next. But there wasn’t anyone waiting: Trump was the last leader to be received by the Queen.
‘Anne raised her hands in the air, laughed and said: “It’s just me,” adding a moment later “and this lot” as she pointed to the members of the household behind her.
‘This excellent bit of sleuthing comes from the very wonderful Laura Elston of the Press Association, who is as impartial a witness as you could hope for.
‘So, the truth is now out there. Not that anyone will pay any attention. Anne the Trump Snubber is a much better story.’
So, the truth is now out there. Not that anyone will pay any attention. Anne the Trump Snubber is a much better story.
5/5— Valentine Low (@valentinelow) December 4, 2019
Royal Commentator Victoria Arbiter said via Twitter, ‘#PrincessAnne has always been a national treasure, but truth is she was never set to be in the receiving line at last night’s NATO reception. The Queen, Charles and Camilla were the only ones tasked with greeting guests. She’s still cool though!’
Princess Royal wasn’t in the greeting line-up because it was The Queen’s #reception, The Prince of Wales was in it a heir to the throne and supporting The Queen
— Dickie Arbiter 🇬🇧 (@RoyalDickie) December 4, 2019
Her father, former royal press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, also said on Twitter, that Princess Anne wasn’t in the greeting line-up as Prince Charles was the heir to the throne and supporting the Queen.
Princess Anne is one of the hardest-working members of the British Royal Family, and the busiest for 2018, as she carried out 455 official appearances, including charity events, dinners and receptions, with a further 85 events carried out overseas.
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