This afternoon we received an email from the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, who are “disappointed that the subject of Her Majesty’s potential visit to the show became public knowledge before all issues could be resolved.”
Apparently there have been some royal-sized rumours about why the queen won’t be attending the Tattoo during her visit this summer: It was going to be difficult for Beth to get up on the stage because of the theatrical presentation risers they use, which can be dangerous if you haven’t rehearsed with them under all the lights, etc. Not because she’s old, as was suggested by some people who obviously haven’t watched The Queen.
“This is not in any way shape or form an age issue. A large number of the Production Team is well over 60 years of age. This is a safety and dignity issue. The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo will not place Her Majesty or His Royal Highness in the position where their physical safety and/or their public dignity could be in any way compromised.”
So the Tattoo is doing everything they can now to accommodate and hopefully reverse this decision:
The Tattoo is immensely disappointed, especially on behalf of the younger cast members and those cast members serving in the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, that officials somewhere in the chain of communication between Nova Scotia and Buckingham Palace via Ottawa have decided to block this opportunity. We cannot be certain at what level this decision was made but we do know that Her Majesty takes a great pride in the work of the Canadian Forces, has a great love of military music and as someone who served during the war years, is herself one of the veterans that we salute at every show. The Tattoo hopes this decision can be reversed.
Me too. I want her to sign my Jubilee tea cup.
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2010.
This is what the British media’s reporting: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/a…
“he offending steps lead up to the 12ft-high stage where, it was suggested, the Queen could have addressed the tattoo. There are 17 of them, rising at an angle of 60 degrees.
Too steep, said the organisers in a report, and too dangerous for the royal couple. Not at all, said the Queen’s people: the Queen and the Duke are perfectly fit.
Indeed, the Queen regularly climbs the 47 steps of the grand staircase at Buckingham Palace. Even to get to the West Terrace from her garden after a stroll with the corgis requires a ten-step ascent. What is more, the Palace said, if she cannot address the tattoo from the platform then she would not be appearing at all.”
annus horribilis!
There is more than one way to access that stage.
I should know I’ve been there when its been built.
Man, why do we still bow down to this bunch?
They won a gene lottery by being born into the Monarchy, and I am supposed to prostrate myself in front of them.
Stay the fuck away from Canada!
and i want her to sign my Princess Di commemorative issue of McLean’s
Get it right people, I know somebody that is helping organise the tattoo, the stairs in question will be full of performers, are narrow, and will be in the dark during the time she is supposed to ascend them as well as being steep, I don’t care who you are if you haven’t rehearsed it (which due to her schedule she wouldn’t be able to rehearse) they are dangerous, it has absolutely nothing to do with her age!!!! And now her scheduler is just being pig-headed because they won’t do it his way, this is pathetic; they are doing everything in their power to accommodate them with a safe alternative, so get of your high horse and let the queen speak at this important anniversary of such a large important annual military event