Barack Obama reveals Queen Elizabeth’s true feelings on Brexit | Royal | News
Former US President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II. He revealed that Elizabeth was dismayed that Lord Cameron had left the fate of Britain’s membership of the European Union to a referendum. The late Queen, who as monarch must remain politically neutral and has not expressed any public opinion on Brexit, is said to have discussed the issue with the then US President over lunch.
Recalling the speech about the Queen’s relationship with America in his new book, Obama said that he did not believe that “a major decision such as Britain’s departure from the European Union should be made by popular vote.”
He said: “‘He [Elizabeth II] he said eloquently: ‘It is difficult to understand why an arguably politically savvy prime minister would propose a public referendum when he did not know that the answer would be so important.'”
Mr Obama interviewed award-winning US journalist Susan Page for her new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History.
He is one of four presidents and three prime ministers interviewed for the book, and bears the marks of his relationships with 13 US presidents. Donald Trump.
At a lunch with President Obama in 2016, the author writes: “They discussed the biggest current debate in Great Britain over Brexit. His view on whether to leave the European Union was the subject of endless speculation during his reign and after his death.”
The Queen, who wears a blue hat with yellow flowers that bears a striking resemblance to the European Union flag, has never discussed her views on political matters, although there has been much speculation on the subject.
But Ms. Page says she has discussed the issue openly with Mr. Obama, with whom she has a warm relationship.
“He revealed his true views to Obama when the anger was at its worst,” he writes. “It was a sign of his closeness and trust in her. “At lunch, he was not only wary of Brexit but also dismayed at how Cameron was handling it, a rare form of royal criticism of a prime minister, public or private.
“In a calculation that turned out to be catastrophically wrong, Cameron called for a referendum two months later in June.”
This turned out to be the only time he ever said anything to himself about contemporary British politics.
