Queen's quip makes headlines in Britain

Press, 28 February 1986, Page 4

Queen's quip makes headlines in Britain

From

KAREN NIMMO

NZPA staff correspondent London The Queen’s egg joke in the wake of the “egg attack” last Sunday and a “bare-bottomed” Maori protest have pleased the British press. London newspapers said the Queen handled the egg incident with humour showing she had “clearly recovered” from her initial upset. The “Daily Mirror" pictured a laughing Queen on its front page with the headline: “It’s a cracker — Queen tells egg joke.” The “Daily Telegraph” said the Queen had delivered a "sharp but goodhumoured riposte” to the women who allegedly threw eggs at her, ruining her pink coat. She had quietly remarked that New Zealand had long been renowned for its dairy produce, but, with a broad smile, she said, “Though I should say I prefer my eggs for breakfast.”

The "Telegraph” said the quip had been well received. People who threw eggs in New Zealand seemed to be regarded as “somewhat eccentric”. It said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, who had

publicly apologised for the incident, had “chortled so much that he had to adjust the cummerbund of his evening dress.” Meanwhile, British journalists are working hard to understand the psychology behind the “bottoms up” protest of a Maori activist.

The “Guardian” said bottom-baring had a “long and honourable history

among the Maoris.” However it was well documented as the ultimate insult in many parts of the world. It was a common phenomenon among working class girls in the north of England and it was used as a display of contempt by the Chinese, the North American Indians and — in the summer months only — the Eskimos.