Michelle Obama, the new American first lady, committed a crime of lèse-majesté during a private meeting with Elizabeth II. "...suddenly, to the stupefaction of protocol", says an article in Le Monde, "Michelle had the audacity to pat the queen on her back. She got a killer look from the queen. Her Majesty, who recoiled momentarily, however, showed leniency, blaming it on jetlag." This non respect of etiquette would have been rewarded with a walk to the guillotine some four centuries ago" Le Monde.fr teases.