Thanks for the iPod

Just look at that big California smile, the Obama's beaming from cheek to cheek, the President resembling the modern day happy-faced politician. Traditional monarchs don't do happy face, at least not in the same way, their outward demeanor tends to be more restrained and composed, even when they plaster on the forced grin, as the Queen hilariously appears to be doing here, which looks even more forced than usual. The irony is that the involuntary smile is more sincere than the happy face, because while you can easily fake a happy face, one cannot easily fake an involuntary smile. Her Majesty appears genuine enough, but the President doesn't even look real, he looks like he belongs in a wax museum.

But let us not begrudge the President's (presumably sincere) excitement at finally meeting the Queen. And let us not begrudge our Grand Old Duke's wish to be somewhere else - if His Royal Consort looks singularly unimpressed, remember he's been entertaining American presidents since Truman, they by now probably mean as much to him as the Queen's corgis.

Let us take issue, rather, with the incorrigible shallowness of the gift-giving. I realize the President is addicted to his gadgets, that he apparently can't do without his blackberry and teleprompter. But giving the Queen an iPod as an official gift with the sound of his own voice recorded on it, is only marginally better than the unworkable DVD collection he gave Gordon Brown the other week. I will admit that President Obama has a very pleasant and well modulated voice, but IT gadgets are little more than transient objects that are meant to be discarded, unlike say a fine painting or a rare old book. So thanks for the keeper - suffice it to say, it's the thought that counts.