The scene is a family gathering in the mid-1930’s. Two young girls dance together on a lawn, while their mother and uncle look indulgently on. Their uncle crouches down and encourages the girls to raise their right arms to the camera; their mother follows suit. Soon, the whole family is giving a Nazi salute, grinning at the viewer.
The image is disturbing, and becomes even more so when it becomes clear the older of the two girls in the home video is Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, and the uncle urging them in front of the camera was none other than King Edward VIII, who met with Hitler and notoriously harbored sympathy for Nazi Germany. Britain's Sun newspaper released the 17 second video on their website and put a still on their front cover on Saturday, July 17, 2015. "Their Royal Heilnesses" blared the headline, above a picture of Britain's smiling royal family performing Nazi salutes.
This embarrassing footage comes ahead of more potential humiliation for the Windsors, as Britain's Channel 4 announces plans for a forthcoming documentary about the Queen's husband Prince Philip and his family's Nazi links. His parents, Prince Andrew and Princess Alice of Greece, were early admirers of Hitler, entertaining him at their flat. Although the couple eventually turned against Nazism (Alice even rescued a Jewish family in Greece, hiding them in her home during World War II), three of Prince Philip's sisters married Nazis, and various other members of Britain's extended royal family expressed sympathy for Nazism throughout the 1930s.
Buckingham Palace and other British institutions have moved swiftly to perform damage control. Queen Elizabeth is said to be "livid", and has instructed her staff to investigate possible legal action. The Palace issued a statement stressing the queen's youth in the video and her 63 years of service to the nation. The London-based Board of Deputies of British Jews also defended the monarch, saying it was not "remotely appropriate" to judge a seven-year-old's actions.
It's easy to sympathize with Queen Elizabeth: it seems unfair to try to humiliate an elderly woman by implying she's responsible for a home video filmed 80 years ago. Some outraged British citizens have even called for Sun owner Rupert Murdoch to be banned from entering the country.
It would be a shame if this scandal and the outrage it's causing distracted attention from real instances of Nazism and other threats to Jews today.
Shockingly, the Nazi ideology of the one-armed salute that's so embarrassed Queen Elizabeth is alive and well and gaining adherents throughout Europe.
Throughout Europe, neo-Nazi parties are on the rise. In Hungary, the openly neo-Nazi Jobbik political party gained 20% of the vote in general elections in 2014; its leaders sport Nazi-style black uniforms and have called Jews a "national security risk" for Hungary and advocated setting up detention camps for Gypsies. Greece's fascist party Golden Dawn became that nation's third largest party in elections in January 2015. Nine different fascist parties from various European countries sit in the European Parliament, democratically elected and spreading their foul ideology throughout Europe and beyond.
The Nazi salute is spreading unofficially, too. Although the traditional Nazi salute is banned in many European countries, the "Quennelle" - a sort of inverted Nazi arm signal popularized by the virulently anti-Semitic French entertainer and activist Dieudonne M'bala M'bala - has become a ubiquitous symbol, performed by public figures and ordinary people alike. Valerie Fourneyron, France's Sports Minister, in 2014 tried to counter those who claimed it was merely a gesture of free speech: "The Quennelle is a Nazi gesture that is clearly anti-Semitic." This salute has nevertheless continued to gain popularity.
It's not only neo-Nazis that pose a risk to Jews. While the pictures of Queen Elizabeth were being debated, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron was highlighting a current threat to Jews: virulent anti-Jewish conspiracy theories among British Muslims. Cameron pointed out that many people in Britain today erroneously believe that "Jews exercise malevolent power" and are willing to consider violence against the Jewish community, posing a grave risk both to British Jews and the national at large.
Muslim hatred of Jews has perhaps most openly been expressed by Iran, which has repeatedly threatened to wipe the Jewish state "off the map", and continues to call for Israel's destruction while the international community debates the merits of the anti-nuclear agreement.
Focusing on these threats is difficult, but imperative. We must stand up to anti-Semitism and confront threats to Jews and others. The photo of Queen Elizabeth as a little girl is a distraction. We need to focus our energies and time on the many pressing issues that are calling out for our attention right now.
(72) Mario Zamora, June 16, 2020 10:54 PM
Excusing the Queen
Before excusing the Queen so fast I think some of the good if any she’s done throughout her life to demostrate she’s not antisemitic should’ve been mentioned.
(71) Annie, January 22, 2020 3:44 AM
I don't believe that the Duke of Windsor was antiSemitic.
But what many people now don't realise was that the English were mocking Hitler by doing the salute, often done with two fingers under the nose to imitate the famous moustache. It was putting him down, not admiring him, and was quite common.
The odds are that this was happening in this photo; they were laughing at Hitler, not saluting him.
(70) steven finer, January 19, 2020 7:43 PM
very important article
The writer of this article has performed an important act of sharing the truth in this matter. Too bad the American newspapers haven't shared this info with their readership.
(69) Anonymous, January 19, 2020 7:15 PM
Im not going to justify
Any of the british royals who by the way were relatives to the germán royalty, or any of the westernentities that openly or covered suporte nazi germán in the beginning And there is no excuse for the ones that supported the beasts all the way till the end
(68) José Derzavich, January 19, 2020 7:07 PM
We have to go back to 1932
And try to remember that for the whole western hemisphere including the church, the enemy were stalin lenin, marx and the comunista brutal régime that had already killed literal millions of russians who stamded UP against them
(67) Rabbi Pinchas Kantrowitz, January 19, 2020 5:22 PM
Excellent! Thank you!
(66) Yehoshua Friedman, July 17, 2019 2:34 PM
Jews come home!
It is way past time for Jews to leave the UK and Europe and make aliya. What else has to happen? Do you have to wait till Kristallnacht or even later for the Final Solution? Unlike the 30s and 40s, today there is a Jewish state waiting for you and a whole organised arrangement to settle you and acclimate you to the return home. So what are you all waiting for?
(65) NECHAMA, October 22, 2018 11:08 AM
DON'T CONDEMN
Edward was an active Nazi sympathizer, we all know that.
The queen and her sister were children, playing. They did what their uncle encouraged them to do. They didn't understand the significance of it all. Even their mother was being humorous.
I grew up as a Jewish child in New York at the time. I remember Jewish kids giving the Heil Hitler salute as a joke sometimes and also as a way to ridicule the Nazis.
It isn't fair to display the picture or even to take it seriously.
(64) Linda, February 25, 2018 7:09 PM
We need to remind the haters that Jesus was a Jew & would be horrified if he could see the vile things people are doing & saying against the Jews today. Shame on all of you!
(63) Joseph Feld, October 25, 2017 8:30 AM
American salute to their flag
Today we see the Nazi salute in the royal photo, BUT in the 1930's this was also the standard American children's pledge of allegiance salute. Only later did FDR replace this salute with the salute American school children use today. It is very clear from school photos of the period.
(62) Bobby5000, May 22, 2017 1:04 PM
England's courage
The English people including the royal family showed extraordinary courage and strength during World War II. While countries like France chose quick cooperation England fought even though they seemed overmatched as bombs reigned down on London. Their courage played a substantial role in the Allies success.
(61) Anonymous, November 14, 2015 1:39 AM
kaiser WW1
WW1 between Great Britain and Germany was initiated by the Kaiser just days after the British funeral for a Royal who had passed. The Kaiser was snubbed as he put it by the Queen They were family members. The Kaiser stormed back to Germany and within days notified the German Citizens that Great Britain invaded the "Motherland". Royalty in the past have always married cousins. Princess Diana was a 3rd cousin of Prince Charles. After WW1, males were in such short supply that men married their first cousins. 20 years later, the holocaust was in full swing with an aberrantly inclined group of heinous leaders. They won the election based on "Family Values".
(60) Rick, September 1, 2015 11:15 PM
ammunitation
making these pictures public only gives these morons more ammunition . I wonder if this was the intention . I sure hope not,
(59) Hinda, July 29, 2015 9:59 PM
The queen was a 6 year old girl. Come on. What does a 6 year old girl know about politics. She wasn't saluting to her own opinions rather playing along playfully with her uncle. Living in England myself, i can personally tell you many occasions in much the queen was very nice to the Jews. My grandparents were invited to meet her, and my great uncle even had a meal with her...
Anonymous, May 21, 2017 6:44 PM
Who cares about the british royals,please...!!
Yeah,hinda..We aren't talking about a little princes girl in the cursed UK !!? We are talking about the Holocaust to over Seven Millions innocent Man,Women and children,whose only reason for being starved,tortured,burned and gassed alive,was the fact,that They Were Jewish..!! To those few survivors among whom my 18 years old Mother has survived..the death camps of aushwitz,loosing all of her Family...My generation has never knew Ganparents..Hinda.. Grand Parents
(58) Scott, July 26, 2015 6:24 PM
A picture is worth a thousand words.
I think the picture is great. It explains how the brits felt about millions of Jews denied the ability to leave Germany and why we were kept out of the palestinean mandate. Antisemitism.
I equate brits upset about a childhood picture of their future head of state giving a nazi salute at the direction if her nazi lovong antisemitic family with people upset that the Confederate battle flag is liked to slavery and racism.
(57) Jonathan Castle, July 24, 2015 10:38 PM
push poll
poll might be a bit skewed since the article contains the following suggestive paragraph
"It would be a shame if this scandal and the outrage it's causing distracted attention from real instances of Nazism and other threats to Jews today".
(56) Shaul Mendelsohn, July 23, 2015 10:08 PM
Used in America Too
The Nazi salute, before it was called such, was how Americans saluted when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It was discontinued after Hitler came to power in Germany when his intentions of German dominance became clear.
(55) Trish, July 23, 2015 6:37 AM
Teshuvah ~ To Return and Repent
I appreciate the above comments, i.e. 'Jewish Mom", in regard to the real issue, and that of the 'heart'. The Jews have a biblical history of blessings and curses. The blessings ensued by enacting 'Teshuvah'. The enemy forces, orchestrated the curses that besought Israel of old, and continue to this day....The history of the Jews has repeated itself over, and over again.
Please, please look within and choose Teshuvah, and then, and only then will you receive the 'blessings'.
(54) Alissa, July 23, 2015 2:02 AM
What a well written intelligent article.
I loved your article. Its sentiment and message. Keep on keeping on. And I was not surprised to see you authored a book. You write well.
(53) beryl hartman, July 22, 2015 10:37 PM
before nazi era
they are waving for goodness sake
Anonymous, July 24, 2015 2:55 PM
WAVING???
Queen Elizabeth's "wave" looks remarkably like a Nazi salute. Does it really look like a "wave" to you???
If so you need to update your knowledge on the difference between a wave and a Nazi salute - for goodness sake.
owen, July 27, 2015 12:47 AM
QE 2
It's a wave to somebody ! For Heaven's sake
(52) S, July 22, 2015 6:20 PM
It has Camilla Parker Bowles written all over this article and release of the picture.
This is camilla parker bowles doings, who else has privy to the family PERSONAL albums??????? she probably took them on her cell phone a while back when her and Charles were arguing, She thought it was her ace in the Hole for monetary gain. But the Precious queen was a young child when these pictures were taken and instructed by her adult Uncle Edward.
(51) Anny Matar, July 22, 2015 4:26 PM
Britain was one of the few countries who saved Jewish children
As an Israeli I might have many complaints against the British Mandate of Israel prior to our Independence in 1948 but I would never condemn Queen Elizabeth for a picture taken of her as an 8 or 10 year old girl raising her right hand. She might not even have been aware of the meaning of such a raised arm. Her uncle was a Nazi very much "impressed" by the fuehrer. Britain and the world owes gratitude to Mrs. Simpson who prevented that man to become king!! The Queen's mother and father were certainly loved by the people during and after WWII as the Queen herself is not only by her own people but by the world at large.
(50) Anonymous, July 22, 2015 3:06 PM
ERROR FIXED
During my childhood, I did not know my full family history,and people saw my skin and eyes and taught lies. At one point my grandfather was asked to tell me of history. Why? We needed help, for had watched tv and Hogan's Heroes was on. We as children played what we watched, and somebody needed play bad guy. And again, Because those liars who spoke ill of the Jews. We did not know of the war, nor of Shoa. . These errors and wrong need fixing,and this queen too may have been mislead by common propoganda.by some who taught of, ' the whites',and so by some I was blamed for the slave trade of America. . God help us. let us think before we speak.
(49) MR. hoffman, July 22, 2015 2:40 PM
Mustaches
Before , "Dolf", made the look infamous, the mustache he wore was fashionable in early 20'th century. The anti-german sentiment AND the Allies dunning german economy GAVE STRENGTH TO THE DAMNABLE. Anti-semitism is unbiblical, and unchristian. Then, Too often, these ideas are interchanged and repromoted by foolish reiteration of myths and cultural of backwards ignorance. And heard is still of the, "Christ killers', hate speech. AND, this was common, even in the US. Our elders at time were misinformed as was the Queen. Let us do see to it that we do differently.
(48) Raphaelle Do Lern Hwei, July 22, 2015 12:33 PM
The UK's German Connections
This is a very interesting article. However, remember that not all Germans have Nazi tendencies, same goes for the British Royal Family. The connection started when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, member of the German Royal Family of that time. King George V, when faced with the threat of invasion in WW1 ordered his German migrant relatives to Anglicise their names and side with the UK, they include the late Lord Louis Mountbatten. Whether he was killed in a boat explosion due to being a covert Nazi is still unknown to me.
Beryl Hartman, July 22, 2015 10:47 PM
mountbattens death
he was killed by the IRA which was very active in Britain at the time, i remember when this happened and the IRA were first suspects and subsequently admitted to the deed
(47) Anonymous, July 22, 2015 12:26 PM
How Queen Elizabeth should respond
I don't blame the 7 year old Princess for something she learned from her anti-Semitic uncle. I do blame the elderly Queen for not doing what she should have years ago--visiting Israel, one of the few countries that she has never set foot in. A visit to Israel would be a great response to the controversy about this picture.
(46) Lisa, July 22, 2015 10:29 AM
Why are we shocked?
No one is immune from anti semitism.....
It shocks me that some are still shocked when they see anti Jew symbols scribbled on walls.....
Esav soneh et Yaakov.....no commentary needed!
(45) Ruth O.Olayisade, July 22, 2015 9:02 AM
Blessing
It is a blessing for the Queen that the video is leaked now that she can defend the situation, than if it's leaked after she's gone and the press have a field day making insinuations. Keep on the good.
(44) Anonymous, July 22, 2015 4:42 AM
It's being handled
For a variety of reasons, the birth rate of the British, Germans and most Europeans is so low that they will soon be a minority in their own countries. One of the first commandments is to be fruitful and multiply, where "fruitful" probably means profitable, not going into debt. It is a key to survival.
So that leaves the Muslims. As much as they look like a threat to us, our most dangerous enemy is the fragmentation, the lack of unity of the Bnei Yisroel. The fundamentalists won't listen to the seculars (the reverse is true) and neither are completely right or wrong. We need to respect and like ourselves. This allows us to see good in others, and the more that we see good in others the more we can like and respect ourselves. Synergy.
There are 70 facets to the Torah, 70 ways to see it correctly, and we don't know what they all are. Nobody does. So let's give each other the benefit of the doubt. And do whatever you can to earn lots of honest money so that you can help your children and grandchildren.
(43) Bobby5000, July 22, 2015 3:16 AM
British courage in World War II cannot be forgotton
Wait, British people and the royal family showed extraordinary courage when bombs came down upon them.
(42) Sarah Vorchheimer, July 22, 2015 2:44 AM
Practice for a State Visit??
בס"ד
Given that it was 1933, and Hitler had only just come to power, the Windsors (QE2's parents) were probably not aware of his full evil. Families that have to behave with diplomatic etiquette sometimes have to learn a form of greeting they would not normally perform. Possibly they were practising for some state occasion where they would be greeting a German government official, or going to visit Germany - such as during the Olympics, when the required greeting was the stiff arm salute. Clearly evil Edward was egging them on and it was a true blessing that he never became King.
England's strong stance against Hitler once his evil was revealed speaks for itself. My late husband was one of 10,000 mostly Jewish children rescued from the clutches of the Nazi to England before the outbreak of WWII. They also took in rabbis (and their families) as they said "We cannot rescue every Jew in Europe, but we can rescue children and rabbis as they are the future".
A descendant of Queen Victoria died in Bergen Belsen because she hid Jews in her residence and was found out.
Yes, the rise of not only anti-semitism, but also racism and religious intolerance world-wide is a matter of serious concern.
(41) Anonymous, July 22, 2015 2:37 AM
Having been a child during the Second World War and having read about the atrocities committed against the Jews, I find it incredible that people have such short memories. It's a case of deja vu. History is just repeating itself.
(40) Owen, July 22, 2015 1:36 AM
That Salute !
Come on Yvette using this to make valid point is so sad & weak to be almost laughable.
Q E 2 was 8 or so when this happened and Hitler had just come to power. Her mother Elizabeth Bowes Lyon was not even Queen at this stage as her husband George 6th did not come to the throne until his Coronation in 1937. There is easily accessed hard evidence that shows the Queen Mother & the King utterly detested the Nazis and despised her brother in law Edward for his pro Nazi stand. He was a clown anyway. Come on lift your game !
(39) Bill, July 21, 2015 11:11 PM
Empty headed leaders
Our world is populated today with far more dangerous, empty-headed "leaders." This is the threat not just to Israel but to everyone (except most "everyones" are just as empty-headed, stimulus-bound to their hand computers).
(38) Marlene Josephs, July 21, 2015 11:00 PM
Great Britain, including Jew hating Ireland, must be brought to task not only for their past deeds, but their present ones!
While the British "ruled" Palestine, they threw Jews into jail all the time. They favored the Arabs over the Jews ALL THE TIME. The survivors who came to Palestine were made to languish in Crete for way too long...especially after the hell they went through...the English refused to allow them to enter Palestine because they promised their Arab friends.
The Queen has never visited Israel, as has been stated, but she and her family have visited numerous Arab countries over many years. Why hasn't she been brought to task about this unacceptable, dispicable behavior? Her stupid grandson, Harry, dressed as a nazi several years ago for a Halloween party. He knows his actions wil be scrutinized by the entire world, but the home in which he was raised apparently gave him the feeling that this was acceptable behavior. Prince Phillip comes from a nazi sympathizing family and so does Queen Elizabeth. Whatever good that England did during the war benefitted England and if it happened to help the Jews...oh, well...can't have everything!
And finally...nobody discussed the underground railroad system in which Great Britain, the US and the Vatican participated...transporting the nazis to safety in South America right after the war ended. These monster nazis were all guilty of torturing and murdering 6 million Jews for the sole purpose of TOTAL ANNIHILATION...just like Iran has been promising to do for many years now...and now Oba$turd is giving Iran carte blanche to do exactly that! Yes, millions of others were tortured and died at the nazis' hands...but ONLY the Jews were selected for extinction. Hitler and his nazis were even collecting Jewish memorabilia with the intent of building a monument museum to this extinct people...the JEWS...sick EVIL BA$TARDS!
Isobel, July 24, 2015 11:33 AM
Your tone is hateful, your language atrocious and I'm sorry you were posted. Shame.
(37) kirsten, July 21, 2015 10:39 PM
don't overlook another fact
the "nazi" salute... wasnt always Nazi. this was the salute in AMERICA and many other countries for the salute to the flag.
by the time of this video, YES it was more and more associated with Nazi Germany, however many people would not *at hat time* have viewed it as ONLY a fascist salute.
(36) John, July 21, 2015 9:03 PM
The WHOLE story.......
Let's TRY and use some LOGIC for once people. Do YOU HONESTLY believe the royal couple would have indulged themselves with this behavior if they had known the Germans were about to murder 6 million people? Aaaah NOOOOOO! TRY and use your brains for once. Acting stupid like this is one thing, it's another to ASSUME they encouraged or respected these thugs throughout/after the ENTIRE war.
(35) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 8:41 PM
Queen never visited Israel
Queen of England visited almost every country on this Planet. She NEVER visited the 66 years old State of Israel. No connection to a lifted hand of a little girl but ... it must be connected to SOMETHING. Something not very kosher ...
(34) Rafael, July 21, 2015 7:05 PM
the Windsors blood line was German
I'm surprised that Yvette didn't mention the British royal family has a German heritage .The Saxe/ Coburg royalty of Britain adapted the name Windsor in 1917 . The intermarrage of European royal families has it that British royalty was in fact German . Because of the political climate and impending war they buried their German name .
Windsor like Rothschild are names that were created for politics and business .
(33) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 6:29 PM
The real threat are the muslims who are multiplicating in Europe and have no shame in giving trouble to those countries that received them with open arms.
Anonymous, August 5, 2015 4:24 AM
Hate speech propagator
Same thing was being propagated about the Jews too during NAZI time....
(32) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 5:51 PM
1933 was the year.
Jacob Lestchincky wrote from Berlin as early as 1933 that the Nazis aimed at a " mass slaughter of the Jews". See the book " On the Eve" of Bernard Wasserstein. Raoul Wallenberg showed the evidence as early as 1936. Is there any difference between the 1930s and today? Living in Denial is a problematic.
The movie clip, subject of your article, apparently was made in 1933.
Historically, it is astonishing that Europe's establishment, from the Vatican to London, fell for Nazism like brainless creatures. The same behaviour is seen with Islam, yet, Islam is fundamentally no different from Nazism, worst even as it includes a god.
Instead of brushing it nonchalant away as a media stunt, the worrisome historical question ought to be why this clip is shown today and not at the end of the 1940s early 1950s?
(31) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 5:38 PM
Royal family and Nazi sympathies
I forgot to add this post..
http://www.today.com/id/6819206/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/jewish-groups-criticize-princes-nazi-costume/#.Va6Bp7_D_IU
(30) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 5:35 PM
Queen Elizabeth..Nazi heritage?
Queen Elizabeth may have been only 7 when she was caught doing a Nazi salute, but her mother was not. Family members on both sides have tried to hide their Nazi links.
However, while the present Queen was a child and could plead ignorance, it seems her grandson Prince Harry, was neither too young nor too uninformed when he chose to dress as a Nazi for a party in 2005. Youth was blamed and excused for the act then. Surely, he should have known better, and if he did not understand what he was doing, then why? And what if he fully understood what he was doing? That picture too, was not supposed to be leaked.
(29) Janice Kenner, July 21, 2015 5:19 PM
I agree.
Although, I can blame uncle and Mum, who are no longer alive, I can't blame children for doing what they are told to do by them. I agree that this is a distraction from more serious anti- semitic activities.
Robert, July 21, 2015 7:50 PM
Clearly a distraction
With all the REAL anti-Semitic people in the world who clearly announce their feelings, a "witch-hunt" involving something ANYONE did when they were 7 years old is just silly. In 1933 how many people who supported Hitler outside Germany had actually READ Mein Kampf... certainly NOT a 7 year old.
(28) Avi, July 21, 2015 5:17 PM
Do me a favour!
What's to distract? It's just another Anti-Jewish person/family which was and still known as one. They just got what was coming eventually from the Germans. A lot of people and nations as a whole liked the idea on being a Nazi, until Germans got to them as well, as I said. Your 2 "options" of defining that picture is irrelevant. That "queen" never visited Israel (a post that was in this journal, btw). We all know how the we Jewish people fought English in Israel. Besides, what do you mean an 80 y.o. picture? So, all the photographic collection of ww2 is not to "distract" us? D.w., the "queen" wont distract me, but you, dear, don't make that picture irrelevant, because it's an 80 years of age, Thanks ^^.
They have a long history and education about how to "behave" with Israel, and that picture only reminds and refreshes the truth, to be told to the young ones the denying ones.
(27) Veda Charrow, July 21, 2015 5:03 PM
Agree with writer
This is indee a silly distraction. In the mid-30's there were probably Jews making the Nazi salute. Many people had no idea how malevolent the Nazis were; as indeed many now have no idea how malevolent Muslim extremism is. The British government should not merely be trying to protect British Jews, it should be taking very strong stands against British Muslims conspiracy theories and out-and-out antisemitism--including cracking down on anti-Jewish and anti-Israel demonstrations.
(26) Deborah, July 21, 2015 4:36 PM
Still Unacceptable
The Queen would do better to apologize and disclose the Nazi links rather than investigate legal action. I would respect her more for honesty than railing at The Sun. As far as I am concerned, Britain doesn't need a monarchy.
Dvirah, July 22, 2015 4:17 PM
I Agree
What's important is not what she did then but what she does now. It would go a long way to "clear her name" if she would speak out against the Neo-Nazis now active in Britain.
(25) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 4:33 PM
Not A Distraction; A Reminder
The photo of the British Monarch as a child flashing a Nazi salute under parental guidance is not a distraction, but a reminder of the anti-Semitism which has infected the British upper-class for centuries, and most assuredly the last century during Elizabeth's life. Jews in the UK are not only threatened by the Muslims living there.
(24) Ian G, July 21, 2015 4:30 PM
Not a Nazi salute.
It was NOT a Nazi salute.
See here: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/592170/Truth-picture-Queen-Nazi-salute
and here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3166822/Was-Queen-just-WAVING-Lip-reading-expert-claims-Edward-VIII-encouraging-princess-gesture-sho
Besides it is far too upright for the "Nazi/Roman salute"
The Sun is scurrilous rag that made it's fortune from publishing topless nudes of 16 year old girls - only just legal.
(23) Lou hodges, July 21, 2015 4:26 PM
Nazi Collaboraters
The other little known fact about Britains secret collaboration with the nazis is the fact that they had the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in custody and helped the UN install him as the representative of Palestine. In doing so they acknowledged Palestine and disavowed Israels right to exist, the Mufyi helped hitler design the death camps and killed Jewish people. And today BRITAIN is a second home to radical Islam. And prince Charles prefers Islam to Christianity. The fact that the Archbishop of Canterbury no longer defends the Christian faith but encourages Britons to welcome radical Islam speaks volumes. And the queen says nothing. Nothing!
Owen, July 23, 2015 6:50 AM
That Salute
I always worry when someone uses the line "little known fact" it sort of says that I know more than all of you. This whole comment thread is turning into a low life attack on the British and moving well away from any kind of objectivity. By the way I never knew the Grand Mufti was an architect and helped plan the KZ Lager.
I suggest any involvement (and I doubt that too) he had here was of any consequence in the formation of the camps. Yes I agree he was a low life but I assure you the vast majority of Britain at the time were hugely supportive of the creation of Israel.
(22) Linda, July 21, 2015 4:25 PM
Salute
The one armed salute was normal in many countries prior to the advent of Hitler. Then, we stopped using it in America.
(21) Fiona CAPSTICK, July 21, 2015 4:15 PM
Duke of Windsor a Nazi admirer
A major biography on the the Duke of Windsor and his American-born wife Wallis Simpson provided chilling material that indicated the couple were Nazi enthusiasts!!!! Wallis went one step further with the Nazis in Paris!!!
(20) Ilene Richman, July 21, 2015 4:06 PM
QUEEN ELIZABETH IS AN ANTI-SEMITE
Queen Elizabeth is an outright Anti-Semite. She always visits Arab countries, but never once has the Queen visited Israel. Her husband, Philip, is also an Anti-Semite and comes from Nazi background. Let us remember England controlled Palestine, the Jewish homeland, and finally, by UN decree in 1948, Palestine was wrested from England and became Israel. Queen Elizabeth by her actions does not invite Jewish people to the palace, does not associate with Jewish people, and shows her Anti-Semitism on her actions. The Nazi salute by a young girl, known as Elizabeth, suits her inward feelings about Jewish people.
(19) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 4:03 PM
Get a life people - - -
Come on, people --- how many of us have done something in our past that we totally regret? As one very wise individual once said to a crowd of self-righteous idiots, "He who is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her."
(18) Edna, July 21, 2015 3:57 PM
Ridiculous comment
the video showing Edward the Prince of Wales, his sister in law the Queen mother Teaching our beloved Queen when she was a little girl hopping joyfully around playing with her kid sister and her corgis, HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with minimizing our attention vis a vis the scourge of anti-semitism.
This video is archival and news worthy. It shows that the future King Edward was definitely a Nazi sympathizer, and that was the real reason behind his forced abdication.
God Bless our beloved Queen Elizabeth, who time and time again proved beyond any doubt where her duty was, and she put all her heart and soul in reigning over a country that had been devastated by WW2 bombing.
As a non Brit You are totally clueless, and your academia immature conclusions are shameful.
Our intent in fighting anti-Semitism cannot possibly become a filtered feeling because of the airing of the video showing Edward as pro-Nazi.
One has nothing to do with the other!!
(17) Eliyahu, July 21, 2015 3:41 PM
Disappointing, but insignificant
Given that the queen was a seven-year-old child at the time, the only thing I have to ask is why in the world she hung onto the film instead of destroying it?
A more important question would be to ask what she is doing now to combat antisemitism in Britain?
(16) Sue Deutsch, July 21, 2015 3:24 PM
Very Sensible
Yvette Miller's article is very sensible. I believe that the picture of the Nazi salute was taken in 1933. That is the year that Nazis came into power in Germany. There is evidence that Elizabeth's uncle, Edward the 8th, was pro-Nazi. He obviously was encouraging his nieces to make the salute. They were little girls. Elizabeth can't be blamed for following her uncle's request when she was about 6 years old. I hope no Jewish organization will make a big deal out of this now. As Yvette Miller pointed out, we have much more important concerns today than what a little girl did in 1933.
(15) Roger, July 21, 2015 3:24 PM
Most people at that time had no idea about what would take place in the future.
The Queen can trace her ancestory back to king David. This can be verified.
She was crowned over Jacobs pillar, the cornation chair has a special shelf under it where the stone was placed, with old Hebrew writing on the front of it. This to can be verified.
I am sure the Queen is very supportive of the Jewish people and Israel.
(14) Mama Dear, July 21, 2015 3:21 PM
we should not feed into the tabloids bru haha
While i agree there is no nation out there that is in love with the jews, I am a bit perturbed that we should feed into this little clip of the queen that the tabloids are having a field day with. The real issue at hand is that there are a growing number of Muslims in England AND the English are allowing predominantly Muslim neighborhoods to rule themselves with shariah law. Some little villages don't call int he bobbys at all when a crime is committed, especially if it is a family murder ie: a female member suspected of whatever imagined crime.
As jews we should take heed, there is no question that France has no love for us and is driving us out by the gobs.
Even in the USA there are streams of Muslims arriving. In my neighborhood in Philly a formally orthodox jewish is now a fully Muslim neighborhood.
Thus you see the problem is not a child queen giving the camera the right arm, the problem is an elderly queen bowing out when the country needs her strength to stem the tides that threaten to overflow the banks and drown all of England.
May Hashem please bring Moshiach ASAP
(13) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 3:19 PM
grist to the mill
Thank you Yvette for this balanced appraisal. Unfortunately, the word Nazi has increasingly become the bait by which the British gutter-press hauls in their readers. This particular story was also headline news in another British newspaper, the Daily Mail. Interestingly, at the same time this photograph of the young princesses was taken, the Daily Mail was being run by the good friend of Mussolini and Hitler, Lord Rothermere. Irony is obviously a concept too profound for these muck-raking institutions.
(12) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 3:14 PM
Don't belittle it
I wouldn't belittle it too much though. Fighting antisemitism elsewhere need not distract from this instance. Public service is just swell but it took her over 80 years to visit a concentration camp for the first time...
(11) Harriet, July 21, 2015 3:10 PM
Great Britain stood alone against the Nazis
As a loyal British Jew, I am outraged that our monarch has been subjected to this embarrassment, which is grossly unfair. Our present Royal Family was central to the war effort and played a huge role in maintaining British morale during WWII. Great Britain stood alone against the tide of Nazism which seemed certain to prevail. America didn't enter the War until after Pearl Harbor, in 1941. That photograph was taken by the Duke of Windsor, a traitor who was forced to abdicate and was exiled for the rest of his life. He was replaced by the present Queen's father, who worked tirelessly for the war effort. Had it not been for the staunch and determined resistance of the British establishment and people, which included my own Jewish family, I personally would not be here now, as my British Jewish great-grandparents, grandparents, mother and uncle would not have survived. I am extremely proud of our monarchy and I really dislike seeing them undermined and embarrassed like this. I'm a Jewish Brit as well as a British Jew, and proud of both!
(10) Doug, July 21, 2015 3:10 PM
We cannot be distracted from the real threats of today ... neo-Nazi's, anti-Zionists, Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah, BDS!
(9) Brahm Zuckerman, July 21, 2015 3:07 PM
This does not make the Queen look bad.
I think that photo is not important. This was so long ago, and you have to realize she was a child being coaxed by her uncle to do a Salute for the camera. And quite possibly at the time, it was unknown how evil Hitler will become. In the beginning Hitler looked good to the world. And as time went on, and he gained more Power, all hell broke loose. Today we have a bigger threat with Islam. And Iran is getting a Power that it should not get. For some reason, the world forgets, and doesn't see the warning signs. Only the Jews can see this, and we never forget.
(8) Bob Costrell, July 21, 2015 3:00 PM
Why hasn't the Queen visited Israel?
Perhaps relevant to why the Queen has never visited Israel? At the very least a state visit by her would help clear up any questions about the significance of her family's past sympathies.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/156537
(7) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 2:55 PM
I makes me wonder
I agree that the Queen was a child at the time the picture was taken by adult uncle and mother who obviously favored Nazi ideology. However I also wonder why Queen Elizabeth has never ever visited the land of Israel. I have never read that she has invited PM Netanyahu either.
Ian G, July 22, 2015 7:36 PM
Not her choice.
She does what the Foreign Office tell her and they are notoriously pro-Arab. They stoped Prince Phillip from visiting his mother's grave for years.
(6) CHAIM LEIB, July 21, 2015 2:51 PM
Princess Elizabeth Nazi Salute?
I have always been puzzled by the fact that although Queen Elizabeth has visited hundreds of countries, including the wealthy Arab States, Israel seems to be one of the very few countries she has never visited, especially since the Queen is always noted as being non political. On a personal level, such a visit would also give her the opportunity of paying
respects at the grave of her late mother in law, Princess Alice of Greece, mother of Prince Philip who is buried in the Greek Orthodox cemetery in Jerusalem and whose funeral she never attended. For some reason, her "forgetting" Israel has always seemed strange and even conspicuous. And yet all Synagogues in the UK continue to offer blessings for the Monarch. I sincerely hope she knows and appreciates this.
(5) Umanaety, July 21, 2015 2:46 PM
Another crazy stunt from the money-conscious western media. Though Nazism is a crime against humanity, it is mischievous to dig up the picture of an innocent little girl to promote Nazism while smiling to the banks. Rupert should be 'forced' to be responsible by the civilised world. Kill Nazism and let humanity live.
(4) Anonymous, July 21, 2015 2:45 PM
look at royal families blood lines
Read book -Humiliate- found on Amazon Kindle and then you will know about the salute and the Windsors.
(3) Frank Adam, July 21, 2015 2:43 PM
Pravda and: Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose
The whole incident is proof of what was well accepted in the grapevine that the abdication of Ed VIII was not just about Wallis Simpson's unsuitability but about premier Baldwin's doubts that Ed VIII would be a constitutional and a patriotic king. the affair also shows the dangers of media moguls who think they are beyond reach. Rupert's Pravdas' have been in trouble before - evesdropping as if they are the KGB.
Most interestingly the Quenelle is indeed a way of giving a straight arm salute and not doing so; but also it mocks the French style of "Present Arms" (hold the rifle vertically butt in the palm of the downward stretched left arm and swing the right arm horizontal from the elbow with fingers extended and palm turned down to rest on and restrain the rifle) and thus insults the Republic and all that goes with it: Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite; including religion, national popular sovereignty, careers open to talents, and the rest of the Rights of Man.
(2) Jewish Mom, July 21, 2015 1:27 PM
Focusing on protests alone is also a distraction!
Every time I read an article decrying the world's double standard, the increased anti-Semitism, the unchecked proliferation of radical Islam and the capitulation to Iran orchestrated by Obama, I feel that our energies are being misplaced. I'm not saying that one should not protest. But that would not be our main focus. It needs to come after, or along with, an internal process of getting the real message that G-d is sending us. Of course we must make an effort to do what we can (hishtadlus, in Jewish terminology). But do not forget that the most important step of hishtadlus is taking spiritual action - far more potent than any protest. If today's situation is a modern day version of Haman's decree, the Jews' reaction, led by Mordechai and Esther, was to fast and repent, realizing that it was their sins that caused their predicament. They did not demonstrate and sign petitions. They petitioned G-d, along with making the internal changes necessary for full repentance, and then afterwards, fought a war in which they vanquished their enemies. If we want any of our actions to succeed, they must be accompanied by this internal, spiritual process. Without it, all the protests and petitions in the world are a total waste of energy and a distraction from G-d's message that we repent and strengthen our relationship with Him (this includes interpersonal mitzvos, of course).
(1) Jamie, July 21, 2015 12:36 PM
Valid point
I agree - we have much greater issues to worry about. This was all about selling newspapers
Ken Davies, July 21, 2015 3:54 PM
I agree.
Born in the thirties, in England, as children we mocked the nazis by raising the left forefinger straight across under the nose and raising the right arm in a mock salute. It was mere childsplay.
Rachel, July 21, 2015 4:02 PM
Exactly
And the BBC documentary is about ratings. After the fall of France in 1940, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany until the US entered the war in late 1941.
A friend's mother recently passed. She was on a kinder transport from Germany to England in the mid 30's and was the lone survivor in her family. Serving as a volunteer in transport for the British government during the war, she had lifelong gratitude to the British monarchy and the British people.
And I suspect she would be appalled by the situations noted in France, Greece, Hungary.
Patrick Dempsey, July 21, 2015 4:08 PM
Children at Play
I bet Princess Elizabeth didn't even know hitler would become the hate filled Murderer of 6,000,000 Jews in 1933. It is far too simple to reference an emphasis that was not there while it is an ever encroaching threat today! See KKK rally in US for what is wrong today, and sadly, Jews are the target as usual!