Obama gives Queen of England an I-Pod
By Fortunata
@Fortunata (1135)
United States
April 1, 2009 4:47pm CST
To celebrate their first meeting with the Queen of England, Obama and wife give the queen an ipod. Yeah, that's right, an ipod! This is April Fool's Day, but it's no joke, I'm afraid. Oh, and the i-pod was loaded with videos of the queen when she visited the U.S. in 2007. And check out the picture on Drudge-The Queen is standing away from the Obamas. Very odd picture, I thought. And some old songbook signed by Richard Rodgers was also given to her. What made me giggle was the Queen gave them a signed picture of herself in a silver frame-Brits say that's not a 'special' gift, but the regular gift she gives out.
4 people like this
19 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
1 Apr 09
Interesting. Better than a stack of DVDs, lol. I guess the Queen has been doing webcasts, she is probably 'hip' enough to use an ipod. At least it has something on there that relates to her;)
The queen gave a silver-framed picture of herself... I guess she isn't too impressed with the Obamas or made her decision based on what Brown got:)
What did Obama give the Browns this time? They had a lengthy visits with the Browns, too.
3 people like this
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I don't know, let's hope it was a dvd player to play the dvds!!
2 people like this
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
2 Apr 09
Well, she's a queen, and Obama is-uh, well...Her gift will increase in value, even though it's a photo of herself, because it's signed, I guess. That's what I read.
2 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I'd venture to say the frame was probably worth more than the DVDs Brown got. Obama's lucky she gave him anything and in my opinion the queen trumps obama.
2 people like this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
2 Apr 09
The president has at his disposal the Office of Protocol which will advise him of what to do and how to act when visiting Heads of State are here. He had better study this rather then the NCAA picks. He should also ask for some suggestions the type of gift he should be giving. Great Britain is a very important and long time friend of the US and we should not be doing anything that might be considered a snub. If he doesn't he will become the butt of diplomatic jokes and considered a weakling in international circles.
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I think he needs the services of a personal shopper. He's obviously either getting some very poor advice or is the worst gift giver in the history of mankind. 
2 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I'm waiting for the "I went to see Obama and all he gave me was this lousy t-shirt."
3 people like this
@jend80 (2071)
• United Kingdom
27 Apr 09
we get multi-region (or easily hackable) dvd players over here so he could easily watch them if he wanted.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
8 Apr 09
No, unfortunately he's president, but something will be done about that in the next four year's election.
@sophie_dfuss (2365)
• Philippines
2 Apr 09
Thats funny though really thoughtful 
I hope Obama can also give Ipod to others who can't afford to buy it since the queen is rich already
I hope Obama can also give Ipod to others who can't afford to buy it since the queen is rich already 1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I heard about it. An ipod. That's something you give to your teenager, not to the queen. And some people think he's brilliant. Yeah, right. What a maroon!
1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
1 Apr 09
Let's hope the iPod works, unlike the DVDs he gave to Britain's PM Brown! The 0bama's are simply gaffetastic, Mrs. 0bama neglected to curtsy in before the Queen which is the custom there, and 0bama's armored limo was parked blocking the Queen's driveway and she had to request that it be moved!
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
2 Apr 09
OMG, really? Michelle didn't curtsy? You know that was done out of rudeness! And did you see whatshe was wearing???? It looked like something out of JcPenney! I also heard that celebrity chef Oliver was making them a meal.. Looks like those 4 chefs went for the sightseeing, on our dime, of course, as they're not even being used.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
2 Apr 09
According the the British commentator on CNN who gave the play by play, the First Lady was not required or expected to curtsy. The only tradition she and Obama were expected to abide by was that you don't touch the queen unless she offers her hand so they both kept their hands at their sides until she offered hers. I do agree with you about Michelle's outfit though...ugh.
3 people like this
@tea512 (687)
• United States
2 Apr 09
The idea is to give something very American, the iPod even though manufactered in china is an American apple product. The songs from Broadway are our theater. Not sure the queen mom is going to like Dreamgirls songs but you never know.
@goutham14391 (23)
• India
2 Apr 09
Thats very funny for me .. But ya thats a very good gift.. I hope that listening to songs may give queen a peace of mind from the present problems the world is facing.. atleast from financial crisis that the world is facing..
1 person likes this
@MAllen400 (829)
•
2 Apr 09
Hi as most of the gifts the Royals get are passed on to their staff or auctioned I think that is the ideal gift after all is she really going to pass on something that has a video of her on. She certainly would not be able to delete it herself.
He has probably heard that the royals like simple gifts after all for Christmas presents they have a certain limit which is only around £10 and they see who can buy the best gift with that amount.
Havent you heard the Queen is very tight with her money?
1 person likes this
@valpopa (154)
• Italy
2 Apr 09
Well, at least the queen of England will have now the chance to find out what technology is all about. This is the right time to get a job at the Royal Court as a "iPod councellor for her majesty" HA. Too bad that if she doesn't get it too fast you get fired and who knows where her majesty might send you?
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
2 Apr 09
I saw this report yesterday and I litteraly wanted to crawl under a rock. Does Obama hate the brittish? I'm really beginning to wonder about this. and just as an added bobus, the queen already has an ipod. Maybe this is a newer fangled version or something?
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
2 Apr 09
That Richard Rodgers book was a signed original and very valuable. The Queen must like music!
I have to say that the Obamas have strange ideas of appropriate gifts for heads of state. The Queen has a traditional gift of a photo, that's fine, but in her culture it is considered an honor to have such a thing. An iPod?! Gimme a break, that's so far below tacky that I'm embarrassed once again.
And...you don't touch the Queen except to shake her hand when she offers it or if she gives you permission. Mrs. Obama violated that etiquette, I doubt the Queen gave her consent for physical contact beyond the handshake.
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
2 Apr 09
Hi fortunata...I heard about this on the morning news. Some were saying positive things like this is a tech savvy gift and they were trying to be more worldly. However I don't think it's suitable for the Queen of England. Wasn't there something better the administration could think of?
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
2 Apr 09
Another thing:
iPods are made in CHINA, you'd think he'd at least be able to come up with something made in the USA to give her. Seems he is emphasizing the fact that China pretty much owns us now.
