Moment Fijian soldier sits down when he meets the Queen (but
she doesn’t bat an eyelid because it is a mark of respect)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2368172/Pictured-Moment-Fijian-soldier-sits-meets-Queen-doesnt-bat-eyelid-mark-respect.html
The monarch understood what the crowds didn’t - that it was
Fijian mark of respect for royalty.
Sgt Rusiate Bolavucu, 32, representing the Burma Company,
part of the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster Regiment, was following an ancient
tradition from his South Pacific homeland.
He said: 'It is a traditional and cultural thing for people
from Fiji
to do when they meet a head of state. It is a way of showing respect.
The Queen has been to
Fiji
so she knows about it, and she had asked me where I was from, so she smiled
when she saw what I was doing.'
It is very important to show respect to one’s elders or to
those in authority in Fijian culture.
This is done through a variety of actions taking into
account body posture and position, clothing and gestures.
In Fijian culture it is thought that good things come
through the head and are passed down to the feet. It is important to make sure
that one’s head is not above others in the room.
Men sit cross legged as it is rude to draw one’s knees up to
the chest.
He was among other solders from the 1st Battalion, who had
just returned from Afghanistan,
and those from 4th Battalion the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, who all managed to
say a few words to the Queen.
Thousands came out in the sunshine to catch a glimpse of Her
Majesty and Princess Anne, as they stopped at Kendal, Burneside, Bowness and Windermere.
Oxenholme station was packed with well wishers as the duo
pulled up in the Diamond Jubilee Royal train, before heading to Kendal town
centre where ten-deep crowds waited in anticipation.
The atmosphere buzzed with remarks of admiration as the pair
chatted to dignitaries, cadets, members of the Royal British Legion and
soldiers.
Councillor for Kendal Parks, Phillip Walker, also got to
talk to Her Majesty, and he made sure she did not leave without a bar of the
famous Mint Cake.
Mr Walker, who had been in the town centre at 8am to make
sure he got a glance of the Royals, said: 'I gave the Queen some of Romney’s
chocolate covered mint cake.
'She thanked me for it and I said thank you for visiting
Kendal. She seemed really friendly and smiley and it was so exciting to see
her, and the Princess Royal, in my home town.'
Mint Cake was not the only foodie treat that the visitors
left with, as both were given a hamper of goods from Made in Cumbria.
And the Queen seemed pleased to receive one product in
particular.
Retail manager Tracey Graham, who presented the hampers,
said: 'She said that she was definitely going to keep the damson gin for herself!
'Princess Anne was also thrilled with the gift and said that
she hoped the Mint Cake we included would see her through the day.'
After receiving posies from Kendal school pupils, Amelia
Nicholl and Harry Coward, the Queen, who was wearing a green and blue floral
dress with a plain green coat, and her only daughter headed to Burneside.
There they gave the Royal seal of approval to a new
multi-million pound plant at specialist paper makers James Cropper.
Her Majesty and the Princess Royal were given an insight
into the business’ daily operations and met young apprentices before unveiling
a plaque to open the new £5m recycling plant.
'They were both really interested in what we were doing and
asked lots of questions,' said Mark Starrs, a colour co-ordinator.
'I was put at ease very quickly.'
The Royal Party then travelled to Bowness, where they were
greeted with flags, bunting and a very excited crowd.
Those assembled clamoured for the chance to speak to Her
Majesty, who was presented with gifts and posies, before setting out on
old-fashioned steamer, MV Teal.
Her Stewart Parvin outfit was complemented by the sparkling
waters of Windermere on the 15-minute sail, which took her to the Lake District
Visitor Centre at Brockhole.
There, she met several local dignitaries and told
schoolchildren she hoped Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s baby
would be born ‘soon’.
The visitors did not go home hungry after lunch at Miller
Howe Hotel, Windermere.
On the menu was local smoked salmon with Morecambe Bay
potted shrimps, Cumbrian spring lamb and for dessert, raspberry and lemon tart.
Manager Nigel Williamson said: 'We had cheated a little
because we looked up online what the Queen did and did not like, and found that
lamb was her favourite.
'But they both seemed to enjoy all of the dishes, and spoke
to all the staff afterwards. It was such an honour.'
After a day packed with smiles and laughter, mother and
daughter embraced before making separate journeys home.
Her Majesty once again boarded the Royal train and waved
goodbye to station staff, police and members of the public, while the Princess
was ushered into an escort car and driven away.
England
and Australia's
cricketers were also all smiles as they met the Queen before going head-to-head
in another eagerly anticipated Ashes Test match.
The monarch walked out on to the famous pitch at Lord's
cricket ground to meet the batsmen and bowlers who were lined up ahead of the
day's play.
The famous ground is the home of cricket and is owned by
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - the guardians of the laws and spirit of the
game.
It will celebrate its bicentenary next year after being
established by cricketer and businessman Thomas Lord in 1814.
As the last of the sell-out crowds took their seats for the
second Test, England captain Alistair Cook
introduced the Queen to his players.
Among the team were the leading performers of the first Test
at Trent Bridge
which England
won - bowler Jimmy Anderson, who took the last wicket in a nailbiting finish,
and batsman Ian Bell, who scored a century.