Flasher?

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 08:17 PM

Is the guy sitting next to the Queen flashing the camera on purpose? It looks that way to me...

Anyone know the story behind this picture?

**Riverkilt** · 2nd May 05, 08:24 PM

Think it was posted a few months ago...if I remember right the guy was VERY embarrassed, had no clue, and has been teased a lot about it.

Ron

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 08:27 PM

I found the answer to my own question!

From http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/14606176:

Queen is exposed to Highland game

By Anil Dawar, Daily Mail
10 November 2004

Having one's picture taken sitting next to the Queen is usually no sniggering matter.

Particularly when it's an official photograph of the battalion in full uniform and Her Majesty is there in her role as commander of the armed forces.

But Colonel Simon West didn't appear to be taking the occasion too seriously yesterday.

In his cap, jacket and spats, his hands on his knees and his ankles crossed, he sat proudly in the front row of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, next to the Queen.

But unlike his comrades, he hadn't taken the time to adjust his sporran and kilt for decency.

So the kilt flapped about for all the world to see. And judging by the grin on his face, the colonel knew exactly what he was doing.

Onlookers said the Queen didn't notice what was happening next to her. But she does not exactly appear comfortable in the photograph.

She was visiting the battalion at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, to present medals after their recent tour of duty in Iraq.

=====

Bad Simon!

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 08:32 PM

Snopes.com has an article about the event, with a much more risqué version of the picture. See it at http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/queen.asp.

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 08:38 PM

Quoted from Snopes.com:

The Mirror's report on this photo (headlined "My Privates Can't Control Themselves") was somewhat more tongue-in-cheek, maintaining that Colonel West did indeed pose sans underpants (but didn't deliberately expose himself):

Simon West, 39, was "embarrassed beyond comprehension" and denied that the cheeky grin on his face proved he knew exactly what he was doing.

One of his soldiers said: "We all think it's hilarious. The newspapers are selling like hot cakes."

One thing was brought out into the open yesterday — the colonel definitely had not got anything on under his kilt.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ed Brown confirmed that Lt Col West was not wearing underpants.

He added: "The accusation he did this on purpose is utterly ridiculous."

As for the jaunty grin, apparently that is how he always smiles.

A colleague at the base said: "When he saw the picture he went bright red. He was covered in confusion. It was an extremely formal occasion.

"I am sure he'll see the funny side one day but at the moment he's not laughing. He's the boss and he knows everyone will be having a jolly good laugh."
The Mirror was, however, unable to clear up the age-old mystery of just what one might expect to find under a kilt:

His father William West, a retired major in the Gordon Highlanders, said: "We are bound by the Official Secrets Act so we can't say what's under the kilt. But my son nearly let the cat out of the bag. Luckily there was a shadow there. It's all terribly embarrassing. My daughter-in-law phoned. She said he was rather out of sorts."

**GMan** · 2nd May 05, 09:05 PM

I had several e-mails sent to me with that picture, with much work done on a certain part of his anatomy, very unreal

I really feel sorry for the chap with all that exposure

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 09:15 PM

Looks pretty real to me...

**GMan** · 2nd May 05, 09:20 PM

The original picture looks very real to me also Cyndi. I was talking about the e-mails I received from various "friends" who shall we say enhanced what is between the legs. When the enhancements were coming down the leg almost to the knee, that was very unreal to me, really disgusting, and the artwork wasn't that good either

**Thistle Stop** · 2nd May 05, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by GMan

The original picture looks very real to me also Cyndi. I was talking about the e-mails I received from various "friends" who shall we say enhanced what is between the legs. When the enhancements were coming down the leg almost to the knee, that was very unreal to me, really disgusting, and the artwork wasn't that good either

Oh, OK, now I understand!