UK newspaper publishes footage of Queen giving Nazi salute as child

By Laura Smith-Spark and Radina Gigova, CNN, Updated 10:12 AM ET, Sat July 18, 2015, Source

Buckingham Palace criticized the newspaper's decision to publish on its website the private family film, which was shot around 1933, when the future Queen was only about 6 years old and as Adolf Hitler had just risen to power in Germany.

"It is disappointing that film, shot eight decades ago and apparently from (Her Majesty's) personal family archive, has been obtained and exploited in this manner," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

The print version of the Sun, Britain's best-selling tabloid newspaper, published a still image taken from the footage -- showing Elizabeth alongside her mother, her 3-year-old sister Princess Margaret and her uncle, who would later be crowned Edward VIII -- on its front page with the headline, "Their royal heilnesses."

The short black-and-white clip, filmed at the royals' Balmoral estate in Scotland, shows Edward -- whom the paper describes as "Nazi-sympathising" -- apparently encouraging his young nieces and sister-in-law to perform the salute, before himself joining them.

"While there is clearly no suggestion that the Queen or Queen Mother were ever Nazi sympathisers, Edward's links with Hitler and fascism are very well documented," the article says.

The Sun also quotes a historian, Karina Urbach of the London-based Institute of Historical Research, as describing the footage as "an important historical document that asks serious questions of the Royal Family."

Edward would subsequently go on to meet with Hitler in Germany in 1937, a year after he abdicated the throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, leading to Elizabeth's father's ascension as King George VI.

It's not clear who was filming the 17-second segment of grainy footage posted on The Sun's website. Nor does the newspaper say who provided what it says is a copy of the original film, made several years ago.

A royal source said: "Most people will see these pictures in their proper context and time. This is a family playing and momentarily referencing a gesture many would have seen from contemporary news reels.

"No one at that time had any sense how it would evolve. To imply anything else is misleading and dishonest."

The Queen was about 6 years old at the time, the source said, and "entirely innocent of attaching any meaning to these gestures."

The Queen and her family's service to the nation during World War II and the 63 years of her reign she has spent "building relations between nations and peoples speaks for itself," the source added.

Hitler was appointed chancellor of a coalition government early in 1933, and the National Socialists had been rapidly and ruthlessly consolidating their power over the government and the population that year. However, many outside Germany hadn't yet come to see Nazism as a threat.

The Sun also published a separate explanation of why it decided to run the footage, saying the images must be seen in their historical context.

"These images have lain hidden for 82 years. We publish them today, knowing they do not reflect badly on our Queen, her late sister or mother in any way," it said.

"They do, however, provide a fascinating insight into the warped prejudices of Edward VIII and his friends in that bleak, paranoid, tumultuous decade."

Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father.

She paid her first state visit to Germany in June, accompanied by husband Prince Philip. The trip culminated with a visit to the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where Anne Frank died, and which was liberated by British troops 70 years ago.

CNN's Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London and Radina Gigova reported from Atlanta. CNN's Vasco Cotovio contributed to this report.

Note.

The Queen has more German blood than English, their surname of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha was changed to Windsor before the war to avoid speculation.

Nehru, come see your God mother doing the hail Hitler.

Correct Sunil, and even Prince Phillip has German background.

Queen Elizabeth II's Husband Doesn't Always Drop The F-Bomb, But When He Does, Duchess Kate's Husband Can't Contain His Embarrassment

Brad Ryder, 7/11/2015 10:41pm EDT, Source

For the most part, Prince Philip is a mild-mannered mate. However, Queen Elizabeth II's husband recently lost his temper, and the F-bomb was heard all around the world.

At 94, even if he's not a king, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, can say anything he wants. And this week during the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Elizabeth's husband proved just that and much more.

While posing for photographers during the photo call, the royal appeared to lose his temper. Based on the footage below, the elder Philip was growing restless by the second. As a cameraperson passed by, he said, "Just take it [the photograph]." Moments later, he began swearing at the photogs.

"Just take the f--king picture."

Apparently, things went his way, as the person on the receiving end of Queen Elizabeth's husband's wrath snapped into action and took the blimey picture. Next, came laughter from those in attendance, including Duchess Kate's William. It sounded like the obligatory "Philip's at it again," kind of laughter.

Some on social media debated over what carried more humor: Philip's swearing or Prince William's priceless look after the F-bomb hit its mark.

Here's a thought to consider: If Prince George gets a potty mouth later in life, perhaps Prince Philip had a role?

Adolf Hitler 'tried to arrange a marriage' between Germany and the British royal family

By Louise Sassoon, 22:51, 19 July 2015, Source

The German leader encouraged Nazi aristocrats, the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick, to marry their daughter to the future king, Edward VIII

Adolf Hitler, just months after the 1933 home movie footage of the royal Nazi salutes, tried to engineer a marriage between Germany and the House of Windsor, claims author Andrew Morton.

The German leader encouraged Nazi aristocrats, the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick, to marry their daughter to the future king, Edward VIII.

Mr Morton claims when that plan failed, Hitler sent a series of Edward’s German royal cousins to London to try to sweeten Buckingham Palace.

King Edward VIII is also said to have been instinctively enthusiastic about the Nazis and viewed Hitler as defence against the hated Soviets who murdered his godfather, Tsar Nicholas II and his family during the revolution in 1917.

Edward was also said to have been intrigued by the way the Nazi leader turned around Germany’s economic fortunes and even stopped Britain intervening when they invaded the Rhineland in March 1936 in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles.

It is claimed he insisted Prime Minister Baldwin take no action and it turned out to be a turning moment in Europe.

Edward was also close to Hitler on a personal level and sent him birthday congratulations.

Adolf Hitler: He tried to arrange a marriage between Germany and the British royal family, it has been claimed

Hitler admirer: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, pictured at Berchtesgaden after visiting German leader Adolf Hitler