At the 80th anniversary VE Day military parade in London, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer inadvertently breached royal etiquette by touching Queen Camilla to assist her, sparking debate over protocol during official royal events.
During a recent service commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, inadvertently breached royal protocol by touching Queen Camilla. The event took place at a military parade in central London, designed to honour the historic conclusion of World War II in Europe.
Footage from the event captured a moment where Queen Camilla was seated next to King Charles III, appearing to search for a water bottle. Sir Keir, noticing her discomfort, reached out and tapped the Queen's shoulder to alert her to the location of the bottle he had spotted. Subsequently, he leaned down to retrieve the bottle from beside the Queen’s seat and handed it to her.
Royal protocol typically stipulates that individuals should refrain from initiating contact with members of the Royal Family unless they are the ones to extend a hand or otherwise initiate physical interaction. Such rules are traditionally observed to maintain a level of formality and respect within royal engagements.
While the interaction appeared to stem from a place of helpfulness, it nonetheless sparked discussions regarding adherence to established protocols during official functions. The event highlights not only the intricate nature of royal etiquette but also the casual interactions that can occur in public settings.
As the nation reflected on the significance of VE Day, it serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in engagements with royal figures. The Express reported on this incident, capturing the unfolding moments during this notable commemoration.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, focusing on a specific event and does not appear to be recycled from older content. However, it discusses past events and could potentially lack novelty in its theme.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative provided.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Express, which may vary in reliability depending on the topic. While it is a well-known publication, it sometimes receives criticism for sensationalism.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The story about Keir Starmer interacting with Queen Camilla in a helpful manner at a public event is plausible, given the context of VE Day celebrations. However, specific details about the incident could not be verified independently.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh, without recycled content, but lacks direct quotes. The source has a moderate reliability score due to potential sensationalism. The plausibility is high given the context, though specific event details cannot be independently verified.
