British Prime Minister David Cameron’s in New York this week to talk climate change. But it’s this caught on camera moment that's getting the most attention.
CAMERON VIA BLOOMBERG: "The definition of relief is being the prime minister of the United Kingdom and ringing the Queen and saying, 'It's alright, it's okay'. That was something. She purred down the line."
Yes, the Queen apparently “purred down the line” when she heard the results of the Scottish referendum vote... whatever that means.
Fortunately, the British media is here to decipher for us.
ITV: "Apparently the Queen purrs."
ITV: “Their next conversation might contain rather less purring.”
BBC: “She’s our sovereign and our sovereign doesn’t purr.”
SKY NEWS:“He might have faced the Queen’s bark instead of her purr.”
Aside from producing a fascinating debate over whether the queen actually purrs or barks, here’s why this is seen as somewhat problematic.
There’s an unwritten rule that conversations between the Queen and her prime ministers are kept private. So Cameron’s revelation is considered a breach of protocol.
Queen Elizabeth, of course, stayed neutral issue of Scottish independence — citing her "constitutional impartiality." (Video via The British Monarchy)
Cameron’s comments seem to expose what everyone already suspected — the Queen of United Kingdom wanted the United Kingdom to remain united. (Video via ODN)
So far, no comment for Downing Street or the Queen’s reps at Buckingham Palace. Unsurprisingly, his counterpart Alex Salmond, the man who led the independence campaign, seized on Cameron’s slip up.
SALMOND VIA BBC: "David Cameron has been prime minister for four years and he hasn't learned basic civility on not gossiping about what Her Majesty The Queen thinks.”
The Telegraph is reporting Cameron plans to apologize to Her Majesty. Or should we say, Purr Majesty.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
