With the world's Royalty hidden away against the driving rain under the canopy of their carriages, Queen Salote threw caution to the wind and greeted the British public with a beaming smile, a fat armed matronly wave and NO umbrella.
She was absolutely soaked to the skin, but obviously enjoyed every minute of the royal precession, and the slightly starchy, austere post war population immediately fell in love with her for her genuine show of informality and Pacific Joie de vivre.
By a simple act of exuberance Queen Salote gained a nation's respect. Ok it wasn't perhaps the English way of behaving, but for the circumstances it was the right way to behave......we can all learn a great deal from such a simple act.
Anyway....gawd knows where my thoughts about Queen Salote came from.....presently I am up at my Brother's house. I am teaching my elder sister all about his tracheal suction and tracheotomy this afternoon; I have never taught family before so the prospect of doing so , is an interesting one. I am sure she will do just fine......
It's another beautiful day up here in North Wales
She looked like a great old girl.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are having great weather John, it is wild and windy here. I keep running out to reclaim our garbage bags at the curb.
Hello John:
ReplyDeleteAnd there we were thinking we were the only people in the world left alive who remember that remarkable woman!!
Now I know who I was in a past life. Queen Salote ! Love her.
ReplyDeleteMalo e lava mai, John. Fefe hake?
ReplyDeleteSorry, my rusty Tongan even has rust on its rust!
I'd smile too if I were Queen.
ReplyDeletem.
It takes an old queen to know one....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteViva Queen Salote Tupou III!! And all alone in that carriage as well - she had vivacious moxy for back then. Her smile captured my imagination as well - I bet she was a fun Queen.
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying all the doings on our side of the pond - looking forward to getting up in the wee hours to partake with my pillow, blanket and strong coffee. xo
what did you say crO?
ReplyDeleteoh the queeny comments keepacomming
lol
wave the flag jac
x
So where you actually there, John or did you see it on TV? (In other words, are you older than you are letting on???)
ReplyDeleteHope the weather is great for tomorrow. I can hardly wait for the royal wedding. I think Kate will do fine with her wave.
ReplyDeleteTalking of one-liners, when Noel Coward was asked who the small man sitting next to the Queen of Tonga (I think it was this one) in another trip through town in a carriage, he replied, "Her lunch."
ReplyDeleteDangit Tom, you beat me to it!! Yes, she was very much loved throughout the Pacific and certainly very imposing at well over 6 feet tall.
ReplyDeleteI can't help myself. If you look at that photo carefully, you'll see the back view of the other occupant of the carriage sitting facing Queen Salote, a small man wearing a large white headdress, a sultan of somwhereorother. When asked who this was Noel Coward replied "her lunch".
ReplyDeletejennyta
ReplyDeleteI am only 48!!!! cheeky cow
I remember the event through converations with my mother who always spoke with great affection for Queen Salote
I can only claim to have been alive when Queen Salote Topou III did the WAVE in the rain...I was 11 and my family didn't own a TV at that time! She does look a charming old girl!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure all will go well with your brothers wife! I learned to do a lot of things for Don over the years...let's face it you learn to do what you've got to do! Please tell her I send my admiration for her being willing to learn...I've known so many spouses who weren't!
Perhaps she sprang into your mind to cheer you up - keeping on smiling despite difficult conditions. It can't be easy giving your sister in law such instruction.
ReplyDeletevera
ReplyDeleteit wasnt too bad....in actual fact it was my TWO sisters that learnt to do tracheal suction
they both did very well!
There is no doubt, Pacific Island people have wonderful sense of fun and catching the joy as it flies.
ReplyDeletePS. I love Meg and George!!
I had a lot of catching up to do... By the way I'm loving the history site.
ReplyDeleteI spend time with a woman whose husband couldn't handle her being on oxygen. So she's in an independent care facility.
Kudos to your sisters learning something some people would not be willing to do.
That's a real lady!
ReplyDeleteI love the post Sohn that there people in this world that show the love of life and not be afraid of catching a cold.
ReplyDelete