This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/25/palace-denies-queen-words-britain-eu-political
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Palace denies Queen's speech suggested Britain must stay in EU | Palace denies Queen's speech suggested Britain must stay in EU |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Buckingham Palace has denied that a speech by the Queen on her state visit to Germany amounted to a suggestion that she believed Britain should remain part of the European Union. | Buckingham Palace has denied that a speech by the Queen on her state visit to Germany amounted to a suggestion that she believed Britain should remain part of the European Union. |
| At a state banquet attended by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the British prime minister, David Cameron, the Queen said “division in Europe is dangerous” and urged Britons and Germans not to take the benefits of a peaceful continent for granted. | |
| Merkel was seen nodding vigorously during parts of the speech, which came on the eve of a summit where Cameron is expected to begin negotiations for a new political settlement, before of a UK referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. | |
| Later, the palace said the speech was not intended to make any political point about the future of the union. “The Queen’s speech speaks for itself on the threats of division and the benefits of unity,” a spokesperson said. “As ever, the Queen is above politics and is politically neutral on the EU.” | Later, the palace said the speech was not intended to make any political point about the future of the union. “The Queen’s speech speaks for itself on the threats of division and the benefits of unity,” a spokesperson said. “As ever, the Queen is above politics and is politically neutral on the EU.” |
| It was the second clarification from Buckingham Palace in 24 hours on a matter of political sensitivity. On Wednesday, a senior courtier, Sir Alan Reid, said an earlier briefing on royal accounts – which resulted in reports that Scotland could cut its contribution to the monarchy – was “never intended to be a criticism of Scotland or of the first minister or to suggest that the first minister had cast doubt on the continued funding of the monarchy”. | It was the second clarification from Buckingham Palace in 24 hours on a matter of political sensitivity. On Wednesday, a senior courtier, Sir Alan Reid, said an earlier briefing on royal accounts – which resulted in reports that Scotland could cut its contribution to the monarchy – was “never intended to be a criticism of Scotland or of the first minister or to suggest that the first minister had cast doubt on the continued funding of the monarchy”. |
| Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, expressed anger following the reports, saying they had “no basis in fact”. | Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, expressed anger following the reports, saying they had “no basis in fact”. |
| The Queen’s speech in Berlin, at a banquet hosted by the German president, Joachim Gauck, had appeared to offer some subtle hints that she believed Britain ought to stay in the EU. | |
| “In our lives, Mr President, we have seen the worst, but also the best of our continent,” she said. “We have witnessed how quickly things can change for the better. But we know that we must work hard to maintain the benefits of the postwar world. | “In our lives, Mr President, we have seen the worst, but also the best of our continent,” she said. “We have witnessed how quickly things can change for the better. But we know that we must work hard to maintain the benefits of the postwar world. |
| “We know that division in Europe is dangerous and that we must guard against it in the west as well as in the east of our continent. That remains a common endeavour.” | “We know that division in Europe is dangerous and that we must guard against it in the west as well as in the east of our continent. That remains a common endeavour.” |
| Her comments appeared to be well received by Merkel, who is a key proponent of greater European integration. | Her comments appeared to be well received by Merkel, who is a key proponent of greater European integration. |
| The speech, prepared by officials in the Queen’s private office, would have been approved by the UK government, as is usual. Her remarks came before a meeting of European heads of state in Brussels where Cameron is expected to set out his ideas for a change to Britain’s status within the EU. The issue is not on the formal agenda for the summit but he will have a chance to explain his desired reforms to the EU’s other 27 national leaders over dinner on Thursday. | |
| The Queen’s speech delivered in Berlin was drafted on the advice of the government like all of her speeches on state visits overseas. In this case, the subject matter would have been passed by the Foreign Office and No 10. | |
| Buckingham Palace stressed that it should not be interpreted as her views on the EU, but rather a politically neutral speech drawing on her own experiences during her lifetime. | |
| “What she is doing is drawing on her own experiences of Europe throughout her own life,” said one aide. “From her experience she is speaking of the benefits of unity and the dangers of division in Europe, not of division within the European commission.” | |
| While drafted on the advice of government, such speeches were also written with a keen eye for the Queen’s political neutrality, the aide stressed. | |
| Personal touches too, such as her reference to meeting Germany’s first postwar chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, at Windsor in 1958, are also added. | Personal touches too, such as her reference to meeting Germany’s first postwar chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, at Windsor in 1958, are also added. |
| It is likely that the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, will have had significant input in the precise wording of the speech. Geidt acts as a conduit between her and the government. | |
| The destinations and timings of the Queen’s official overseas visits are decided by the royal visits committee, comprising members of her household as well as government representatives. | |
| The royal visit to Germany continues on Thursday when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh tour Frankfurt. They are scheduled to visit St Paul’s church – which played an important role in the birth of parliamentary democracy in Germany – and will have lunch in the Römer, the city hall. They will then return to Berlin, where they will attend a garden party at the residence of the British ambassador. | The royal visit to Germany continues on Thursday when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh tour Frankfurt. They are scheduled to visit St Paul’s church – which played an important role in the birth of parliamentary democracy in Germany – and will have lunch in the Römer, the city hall. They will then return to Berlin, where they will attend a garden party at the residence of the British ambassador. |
| Additional reporting by Caroline Davies | Additional reporting by Caroline Davies |