/ 24 April 2000

QUEEN MAKES ROYAL BLUNDER

BRITAIN made an embarassing protocol slip when it emerged that Queen Elizabeth II had congratulated Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on his country’s national day even as his supporters murdered a white farmer. The Foreign Office confirmed that a message of goodwill was sent to Zimbabwe on Tuesday, the 20th anniversary of independence. A spokesman said such messages were sent out to all countries on their national days, and are drafted by the Foreign Office and sent to Buckingham Palace for the queen’s signature.