The British Queen goes online with first email address…
Queen goes online with first email address
By Celia Walden and Nigel Bunyan (www.telegraph.co.uk)
The Queen’s latest foray into the world of modern technology has led her to setting up her own email account, it has emerged.
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But, in true majesterial fashion, she does not actually type her emails herself - rather she dictates them. The 81-year-old monarch, already the proud owner of a mobile phone and an iPod mini, revealed her aquisition of an email address at a recent Buckingham Palace garden party. The 81-year-old monarch, already the proud owner of a mobile phone and an iPod mini, revealed her aquisition of an email address at a recent party for the Household Cavalry. At the end of an animated conversation between the Queen and Elizabeth Saltzman, editor of Vanity Fair, the journalist said:
“Look, we must keep in touch””.
“Absolutely!” agreed the monarch. “Here, let me give you my email address.”
“Good lord, you use email?” replied a stunned Saltzman.
“Oh yes,” continued the Queen. “But I don’t actually write them - I dictate them all, of course. “
Buckingham Palace refused to comment on whether the Queen had her own account. But, sources said that the Queen is in regular email contact with her grandchildren, though she does still apparently rely on her aides to show her how exactly to send them.
In June 2005 it was reported that the Queen had been bought a six-gigabyte mini iPod. Amongst some of the music stored on it is said to be The Last Night of the Proms. And she seems keen to let the world know of just exactly how technologically aware she is. Last year she made her Christmas Day message available for the first time as an podcast. She is also said to use her mobile to send text messages to Princes William and Harry.
The Queen’s adoption of an email address leaves a dwindling number of famous people relying largely on pen and ink. Terry Eagleton, the Marxist academic, is proud to play the role of a Luddite.
He said recently: “I have an aversion to email and mobile phones, and I’ve never felt I’ve missed out by not having either.”
Benjamin Zephaniah, the poet, musician, actor, playwright and novelist, is also thought to be an internet refusenik.
The position of the Pope on the subject remains unclear. However, Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, is indisputably bereft of all things internet.
“He doesn’t even use a computer,” said his spokesman, Tenzin Taklha. Spy can only speculate as to what the royal email address might be - our current favourites are ‘oneself@palace.gov.uk’ and ‘lizzy_2@hotmail.com’ - but please send us your suggestions.Whatever next - a royal blog?
It’s amazing that people are actually putting their emails to the queen on the Telegraph’s comment form; all in hopes of having it delivered if & when her actual email address is uncovered. Here are a few of the comments that have been submitted so far:
Comments:
Dear Queen Elizabeth:
As one who traces his roots to England (through the Luther, Stevens, and Hyde families, to name a few) I am delighted to wish you the very best on your birthday. I am the executive director of the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ, USA and we are currently in the midst of a major construction project to create new galleries for the collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata assembled over a fifty year period by the late Honorable Murtogh D. Guinness, also of England. I have had several occasions to visit your country to meet members of the extended Guinness family regarding our project here and each trip has been delightful. For more information, please check our web site: www.morrismuseum.org.
With great respect and admiration,
Steven Hyde Miller
Posted by Steven H. Miller on June 19, 2007 7:17 PMGood Luck Madam
Posted by G.S. de Silva on June 19, 2007 3:56 PMour Majesty,
It was, as always, a pleasure to see you in such good health and obviously enjoying your official birthday parade on Horse Guards last weekend. May I ask if you really do enjoy it as much as you appear to? The stirring music is certainly enough to get anybody’s toes tapping but you really do seem to enjoy it even after so many years You are a true inspiration to those of us who really love this country and it’s Royal family.
Posted by Sandra Wright on June 19, 2007 2:28 PMI guess your email is queenie@windsormassive.org and when you set it up can I have you as a friend on My Space please Ta!
Posted by Freedom on June 19, 2007 9:48 AMOur best wishes for a Happy Birthday. You have
been a steadfast example to us since we were
small children. Why shouldn’t we oldies be
technically competent…… my husband had a new
Apple laptop for his 83rd - and I have a new one
for my 76th. Keeps our far flung family in touch.
Nearly up to our diamond anniversary too! So we
feel a bond with you. Thank you
Posted by Rosemary Titterington on June 19, 2007 8:21 AMYour Majesty,
What a privilege to send you an email. Thank you for the many years of faithful and dedicated service to our great country through some difficult times. May you continue to reign for many many more years in good health and happpiness. I also hope you find the energy to keep a good measure of the Brit in Britannia.
Posted by John D. on June 19, 2007 5:57 AMPlease can I have a Knighthood, I hear you are giving them away to all and Sundry…..please Rushdie me the details
Posted by K C on June 19, 2007 1:09 AM
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