Let me tell you why the Queen wearing yellow when granting an audience to Najib was not a coincidence or a faux pas

By Being Vernon

Let me tell you why Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II wearing yellow when granting an audience to our Prime Minister and his wife was not a coincidence or a faux pas. As much as UMNO would prefer to think otherwise.

Fact 1. The Queen, contrary to popular belief, is very much well-informed. She is constantly kept abreast of the latest developments and news pertaining to her realm and her government by her team of palace advisers, secretaries and civil servants. They, in turn, gather their information from various sources, including ministries, government departments, Scotland Yard, 10 Downing Street, and members of the press corp in the UK. (Scotland Yard, knowing that the Queen would be granting an audience to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, would have certainly informed the Palace of the many demonstrations in London by Bersih 2.0 supporters.)

When a visiting dignitary is scheduled to meet the Queen, she is always fully briefed on the background of her visitor, the current situation of her visitor's home country, and the DO's and DON'T's to observe. Particularly, she would be informed of developments in her own realm regarding the visitor. Scenes in London like the one in the photo below would not have escaped Her Majesty's team of advisers, who in turn would have briefed the Queen. So, to assume that she was not aware of Bersih 2.0 is untenable.

Fact 2. Royal wardrobe and fashion is strictly regulated, and the Queen and members of the Royal Family are always careful not to make any fashion faux pas or distress their guests. Her advisers would have advised her to stay away from wearing yellow, and explained the significance of the colour in present circumstances. As Sarawak Report suggests, “she MUST have been informed of the sensitivity of the colour yellow”.

My friend (and fashion writer) Sasha Bashir commented at my facebook, “I have read in several write ups about Princess Diana's wardrobe that English royals are always briefed on current issues and what colours should and should not be worn. One I can remember is that she visited some country where they had just lost an important football match and the whole country was upset about it. The baju she was going to wear at state formal dinner was same colour as flag of the other country, so she had to change her wardrobe plans. Kate Middleton is also following this kind of thing. On her trip to Canada recently, she wore white dress, red shoes and red maple leaf hat. Canada flag is red, white with maple leaf. The royals are not supposed to be fashion icons (even though people like Princess Di and Kate are), they are to be fashion diplomats. :)”

Fact 3. Besides attending public events, state dinners, receiving dignitaries and horse races, the Queen actually does paper work! Yes, Her Majesty, like many of us, has her daily duty of working at one of her many desks reading and signing state papers and official documents (often classified as secret). British fastidiousness with information and intelligence gathering is well-known. Her cache of papers would most definitely have included confidential dossiers on Najib Razak and Malaysia. And Bersih 2.0.

Copyright Press Association Images

Fact 4. Besides official papers, she also reads the newspapers. Knowing that she would be meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia, an article in The Guardian, a respected British newspaper, with the headline "Malaysia's Najib must abandon the Mubarak model", would surely have caught her eye.

Fact 5. The Queen meets her Prime Minister once a week, every week. It would have been incumbent upon David Cameron to apprise the Queen of Najib Razak and Malaysia, in view that he would be visiting the UK on an official trip. News of the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, being reported globally the same week the Queen had her weekly meeting with David Cameron, would most definitely have been a topic of conversation. It is also a practice for the British Prime Minister to advise the Monarch on how to appropriately respond to political situations of the day, since she is constitutionally apolitical.

Did Cameron therefore gently suggest that the Queen wear yellow as a message to our Prime Minister and also to the people of Malaysia? Where Cameron could not publicly chastise Najib, the Queen could, with regal aplomb, send a strong message?

Fact 6. The Queen is a politically astute woman who has seen twelve British prime ministers serve under her reign, the list starting with Winston Churchill, no less! Her vast experience in international relations and diplomacy is unchallenged and she would thoroughly understand the subtleties and symbolism attached to what one says and what one wears. To assume that Her Majesty has no political acumen is completely ludicrous.

Fact 7. Everything the Queen does is planned in advance and takes into consideration all factors. Everything has a reason, even right down to the colour of the flowers in her audience chamber! Nothing is coincidental, random or arbitrary where the Queen of the United Kingdom is concerned.

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Comments (20) Add Comment

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written by kooler, July 24, 2011 09:46:21

Did anyone notice that while our own Rosmah wore light blue baju presumably to match her Blue diamond ring, to impress Her Majesty... the Queen socks it them with her YELLOW dress. smilies/tongue.gif

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written by Hanuman, July 18, 2011 23:27:32

Thank you Your Royal Highness! We, Malaysians, are deeply grateful for your support. I am glad you showed najib that the British are much more clever and intelligent than him and his goons. The British cannot and will not be taken for granted.

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written by hplooi, July 18, 2011 22:50:00

Awesome
Long Live the Queen!
How can I write to the HRH QE to express my heartfelt gratitude for her kind empathy?

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written by Rodins Fist, July 18, 2011 20:42:29

Well put being Vernon.
Also to add, the British Monarchy have existed for centuries. They know all about protocol and how to Do or Do Not. In this case her Highness basically told Najib: "See my dress? I support the People (Rakyat)"
Secondly, the Monarchy with the knowledge of the BBC, knows the power of photographs. Her Highness knew the impact. Which is why we now support her. A powerful statement indeed. As the figurehead of UK. Don't be suprised if we get more 'chummy' with the Brits!
Lastly, the Queen loves to play politics from her Palace. Being in the business for decades, She meets hundreds of Commonwealth leaders. I think her Highness enjoyed this particular joke.

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written by Angela Ooi, July 18, 2011 16:16:18

No need for longish write ups on this lah, Queen E is my favourite Royal currently ...she's smart, well-read n I also read that she has a wicket sense of humour. Long live the Queen!

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written by lakian, July 18, 2011 13:09:44

beware of the idiotic malaysia government like rais yatim,hinsanmudin,muhyidin of accusing you being screatly financial supported by british and you tend to ruin this country bringing back realm of british colonisation.it is stupid why the social party leader were accused of communism,there is no communism in this globe except malaysia herself,umno bn govnt.

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written by sinniah, July 18, 2011 12:54:41

British Sarcasm and Disdain at its diplomatic BEST, as only an English would say for what the Queen wore.. What more can be said......LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

+109

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written by Fart Fart Wah, July 18, 2011 12:42:47

The IGP should arrest the Queen for wearing yellow. He should command Scotland Yard extradite the queen on suspicion of working with Bersih and then make her do the squats. After that UMNO YOUTH should stand in font of the British Embassy and demand that the queen not wear yellow forever as this is the or royal color.And then the botox lady should flash her 74 million diamond ring at her to show that her flashing power is greater and that UMNO listens to her..and tell the British Government that she has a yellow husband.

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written by batsman, July 18, 2011 12:27:44

Aisehman - you guys sound like pathetic anglophiles to me. heeheehee

Does her fart smell of yellow roses too? heeheehee

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written by Linda J, July 18, 2011 11:57:21

The queen wearing yellow with yellow flower arrangements in the background was no accident. It was a slap to najib's face. Bravo queen. And you did it with such sangfroid too.

+143

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written by NSTPravda, July 18, 2011 11:51:21

Read lah My Oafs 1My Qur'4n swearing pink pouting lip$ smilies/kiss.gif

1. It is gaffe on the part of the brutish kurang ajar kafir Queen. Look how forgiving Ro$mak was to the infidel mat sailh kurand ajar Queen.
2. If it meant to send u$, Mr and Mrs 1Cho$en One, the kafir Queen would be carrying C4, which will be a stronger message, she was not even carrying her handbag, so no C4 in sight.
3. A few dead yellow flowers just meant that the kafir Queen cannot afford good flowers like those fresh in our Mahligai.
4. Just in case she was being rude, I already instructed Cou$in Hi$h to revoke the kafir Queen's Bolehland Citizenship.
So, dollar akbar, $emua-nya OK!

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written by Liberian, July 18, 2011 11:35:12

All Heads of State of any country, their dress code is decided by the Protocal office in the PM's Department. One of our Agong during a private party told us. Even their leaves are controlled by the PM's Office. So the Queen was advised by the PM, David Cameron's Protocal Department. UK government support the Bresih Movement!!

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written by Revolution, July 18, 2011 11:16:10

Different countries , different royals .

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written by my-oumrie, July 18, 2011 10:28:29

The Queen knows her own mind and she doesn't suffer fools gladly!

+105

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written by singhkris, July 18, 2011 10:15:33

Never underestimate the British. They once ruled the world remember? Only a fool would have missed the message the Queen was trying to send to Najib!

+130

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written by Ken Liew, July 18, 2011 09:31:32

I've said it,.... and i'll say it again... We LOVE you, Queen In Yellow~!

+160

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written by educationist, July 18, 2011 09:29:21

TQ , being Vernont, for confirming what my my British friend told me!!
I had never been a fan of the royal family but my heart is singing praises of the Queen even now for "the Queen could, with regal aplomb, send a strong message?"
Release the EO 6[PSM 6] immediately!!

+138

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written by batsman, July 18, 2011 09:18:15

btw, from the photo, she looks like wearing pink to me.

-124

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written by batsman, July 18, 2011 09:17:25

Aisehman - Aren't you a little too obsessed by colour yourself? Why do you bother what QE wears or does not wear?

-142

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written by myke, July 18, 2011 09:16:54

My gosh.!!!She is truly one decent diplomatic genius.

Now that the shit(najis) has hit the fan. It's going to smell really bad and thanks to our smelly PM.!!
Idiotic people do idiotic things and we have all of those idiots in BN running this country that gives out odor of SHIT.