Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

After Gaffes, Queen Hopes to Placate Saudis

Miliband 'snub' latest snag in King Abdullah's rocky UK trip

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 30, 2007 11:00 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Queen Elizabeth will have to put on a brave face when she welcomes Saudi King Abdullah today, following yesterday's gaffe-filled beginning to his London visit. Abdullah's widely reported outburst over the 7/7 attacks left Downing Street open-mouthed, writes the Times of London, but then Britain's foreign secretary skipped a meeting with his Saudi counterpart.

David Miliband was in America finalizing the adoption of his new son, but the Saudis took the incident as a snub and Miliband's replacement by a junior minister as an insult. Abdullah's visit has also led to protests against the Saudi arms trade and human rights record, and several MPs will boycott today's Buckingham Palace banquet. Gordon Brown receives the king tomorrow.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives in London Tuesday on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided,...
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives...   (Associated Press)
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, right, and Britain's Prince Charles, drives away from Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided, that might have averted London's deadly July 7, 2005,...
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, right, and Britain's Prince Charles, drives away from Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit, accused...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II hosts a reception at St James's Palace, London, where members of her regiment were invited to mark her 60 years as Colonel in Chief of the Queen's Royal Lancers, Monday Oct. 15, 2007. The Queen is to meet King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia today.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II hosts a reception at St James's Palace, London, where members of her regiment were invited to mark her 60 years as Colonel in Chief of the Queen's Royal Lancers, Monday Oct....   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

A 2-week-old succeeds in disrupting what thousands of protestors couldn't
Guardian (UK)

Comment: why the red carpet is out for the king
Telegraph (UK)

 
King Abdullah • Gordon Brown • Queen Elizabeth II • David Miliband • snub

More Newser Stories

Did Bush, Blair Plot vs. Gordon Brown?

David Cameron Will Succeed Gordon Brown

Brown Meets With Queen to Dissolve Parliament

UK Will Go to Polls May 6

Gordon Brown Survives Secret Ballot Coup Attempt
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne