The US ambassador to the UK has faced criticism after he appeared to film the Queen during her speech at D-Day commemorations at Portsmouth today. Woody Johnson, who was sitting behind the Queen, was seen holding his mobile phone up throughout the short address which took place in front of world leaders.
Ambassador Johnson hasn’t commented on his actions. However, there has been some criticism of his visible use of his mobile which was held up for most of the speech. Another representative, sitting two seats down from the ambassador, was also seen to get his silver phone out apparently to snap the moment for posterity.
Critics have described the use of phones during the speech, which saw the Queen offer thanks to all those who took part in the liberation of Europe, as insensitive and inappropriate. However, it’s not clear whether anyone was definitely recording or photographing the event from the VIP area.
The Queen was speaking as the UK national commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings took place at Southsea, Portsmouth. It was also the final event of the three day State Visit made to the country this week by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
In her speech, the Queen praised the resilience of the generation who fought at D-Day and recalled the words of her father, King George VI, in his own address on June 6th 1944. President Trump also looked back to World War Two as he took to the stage to read out the radio speech given by President Roosevelt on D-Day.
At the end of the commemoration, the Queen and the Prince of Wales bade a formal farewell to President and Mrs Trump. The couple’s State Visit began on June 3rd 2019 and has included an official welcome and State Banquet at Buckingham Palace as well as a visit to Westminster Abbey.
