This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35760912
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: Queen neutral, palace says after Sun claim | EU referendum: Queen neutral, palace says after Sun claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Buckingham Palace has insisted the Queen is "politically neutral" over the EU referendum, following a newspaper claim that she "backs Brexit". | |
| The Sun quotes anonymous sources, one of whom claims to have witnessed a "bust-up" between the Queen and pro-EU former Deputy PM Nick Clegg in 2011. | The Sun quotes anonymous sources, one of whom claims to have witnessed a "bust-up" between the Queen and pro-EU former Deputy PM Nick Clegg in 2011. |
| It says the Queen told Mr Clegg the EU was "heading in the wrong direction". | It says the Queen told Mr Clegg the EU was "heading in the wrong direction". |
| Buckingham Palace said it would not comment on "spurious" claims, and Mr Clegg called the story "nonsense". | Buckingham Palace said it would not comment on "spurious" claims, and Mr Clegg called the story "nonsense". |
| Under the headline "Queen backs Brexit", the Sun says the Queen's exchange with Mr Clegg at a lunch in 2011 left "no room for doubt about her passionate feelings over Europe". | Under the headline "Queen backs Brexit", the Sun says the Queen's exchange with Mr Clegg at a lunch in 2011 left "no room for doubt about her passionate feelings over Europe". |
| It says her "reprimand" of the Mr Clegg "went on for some time and stunned other guests". | It says her "reprimand" of the Mr Clegg "went on for some time and stunned other guests". |
| The paper says the Queen also revealed her feelings about Europe during a separate conversation with MPs at Buckingham Palace "a few years ago". | The paper says the Queen also revealed her feelings about Europe during a separate conversation with MPs at Buckingham Palace "a few years ago". |
| It claims the Queen told them: "I don't understand Europe" - words an unnamed parliamentary source says she spoke with "venom and emotion". | It claims the Queen told them: "I don't understand Europe" - words an unnamed parliamentary source says she spoke with "venom and emotion". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent |
| A "Queen backs Brexit" headline will provoke both irritation in palace circles and a weary acceptance that it was probably inevitable that the royals would be dragged into this divisive debate. | A "Queen backs Brexit" headline will provoke both irritation in palace circles and a weary acceptance that it was probably inevitable that the royals would be dragged into this divisive debate. |
| This is an attempt to shine a light on what is rarely illuminated - the Queen's private thoughts on political matters. | This is an attempt to shine a light on what is rarely illuminated - the Queen's private thoughts on political matters. |
| Officials are keen to stress she's neither for Leave nor Remain; but on the fence, neutral and impartial - a space, they say, she's occupied for 63 years. | Officials are keen to stress she's neither for Leave nor Remain; but on the fence, neutral and impartial - a space, they say, she's occupied for 63 years. |
| Their challenge is that the Queen did enter the political fray recently. It was an intervention that garnered only muted criticism. Historians may pass a different judgement. | Their challenge is that the Queen did enter the political fray recently. It was an intervention that garnered only muted criticism. Historians may pass a different judgement. |
| During the 2014 Scottish referendum, the monarch was judged to have backed Scotland remaining within the UK when she told a well-wisher: "I hope people will think very carefully about the future." | During the 2014 Scottish referendum, the monarch was judged to have backed Scotland remaining within the UK when she told a well-wisher: "I hope people will think very carefully about the future." |
| Read more from Peter | Read more from Peter |
| Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen remains politically neutral, as she has for 63 years. | Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen remains politically neutral, as she has for 63 years. |
| "We would never comment on spurious, anonymously sourced claims. | "We would never comment on spurious, anonymously sourced claims. |
| "The referendum will be a matter for the British people." | "The referendum will be a matter for the British people." |
| And Mr Clegg tweeted: "As I told the journalist this is nonsense. I've no recollection of this happening & its not the sort of thing I would forget." | And Mr Clegg tweeted: "As I told the journalist this is nonsense. I've no recollection of this happening & its not the sort of thing I would forget." |
| But Tom Newton Dunn, the Sun's political editor, writes that the paper would not have reported the Queen's remarks "had they not come from two different and impeccably placed sources". | But Tom Newton Dunn, the Sun's political editor, writes that the paper would not have reported the Queen's remarks "had they not come from two different and impeccably placed sources". |
| He says the Queen must remain "above the fray" of political issues, but adds: "If she has a view on Brexit, don't voters have a right to know what it is?" | He says the Queen must remain "above the fray" of political issues, but adds: "If she has a view on Brexit, don't voters have a right to know what it is?" |
| Queen 'purred' | Queen 'purred' |
| Last month a spokesman for Prince William denied the prince had been making a comment on the European debate when he described Britain as an "outward-looking nation". | Last month a spokesman for Prince William denied the prince had been making a comment on the European debate when he described Britain as an "outward-looking nation". |
| Newspapers including the Guardian and the Daily Mail interpreted his comments as support for Britain staying in the EU. | Newspapers including the Guardian and the Daily Mail interpreted his comments as support for Britain staying in the EU. |
| And in the build-up to Scotland's 2014 referendum on independence, Buckingham Palace denied suggestions that the Queen would wish to influence the result, following reports that she was concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence. | And in the build-up to Scotland's 2014 referendum on independence, Buckingham Palace denied suggestions that the Queen would wish to influence the result, following reports that she was concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence. |
| Shortly before the vote she was heard saying she hoped people would "think very carefully about the future". | Shortly before the vote she was heard saying she hoped people would "think very carefully about the future". |
| After the Scottish people voted to reject independence, PM David Cameron was recorded saying the Queen "purred" on hearing the result. | After the Scottish people voted to reject independence, PM David Cameron was recorded saying the Queen "purred" on hearing the result. |