The Queen is apparently amused by Cherie’s stiff leg syndrome, which is obviously the reason she is unable to curtsey before her. Hilary Clinton, when First Lady, quite properly did not curtsey to the Queen either. Guido respects them for their republicanism. However, surely as a practising Catholic, Cherie is willing to show the proper respect to His Holiness?

Tradition requires Catholic woman to wear modest black. Pictured on the left is Queen Sophia of Spain exercising her Privilege du blanc as a Catholic monarch, a privilege conferred by the papacy on the historical Catholic monarchies, the Queens of Belgium and the Grand Duchesses of Luxembourg having been the other royalty granted the white privilege. Cherie appears to have seized for herself the privilege of Queens.