May 21 file photo taken of the queen during a visit to a Heinz food factory in Wigan, England.
"Queen Elizabeth is fuming," The New York Times writes.
"Royal aides" are said to be "outraged," The Sun (of Britain) says.
Buckingham Palace is in a "fury," according to The Daily Mail.
Why?
As the Times writes, Queen Elizabeth:
Is decidedly displeased, angry even, that she was not invited to join President Obama and France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, next week at commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, according to reports published in Britain's mass-circulation tabloid newspapers on Wednesday. Pointedly, Buckingham Palace did not deny the reports.
The 83-year-old queen is, after all, the Times points out, "the only living head of state who served in uniform during World War II. As Elizabeth Windsor, service number 230873, she volunteered as a subaltern in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a driver and a mechanic. Eventually, she drove military trucks in support roles in England. "
The French government says the queen is "naturally welcome" to attend, but that it's up to the British government to designate a representative.
Is this, dare we say it ... much ado about nothing? Or a serious breach of protocol?
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