YouTube video of queen, Italian leader popular

Published 7:37 am Friday, April 3, 2009

LONDON — A video of Queen Elizabeth II pretending to be exasperated with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a summit reception has become a hit on YouTube.

The clip from a Buckingham Palace reception for President Barack Obama and other world leaders shows the queen jokingly reprimanding Berlusconi for talking too loudly after a group photo was taken.

On the video it sounds as if she is saying, “Why does he talk so loud?” as she slumps her shoulders in mock frustration.

A spokesman for the queen said today she was not offended by Berlusconi. The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because of palace policy

He said it was “a jovial lighthearted moment.”

The group photo was taken after an informal champagne reception.