The Queen to visit Google's UK HQ

by Jennifer Whithead, Media Week 11-Sep-08, 11:05

LONDON - The Queen is to pay a visit to the UK headquarters of Google on 16 October, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, after reportedly becoming a big fan of the internet.

The Queen will meet staff at YouTube, owned by Google, who helped create the Royal Channel, where her Christmas message was broadcast last year.

The Queen is said to have personally approved some of the footage that appears on the channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRoyalChannel, where 15,000 people have watched a three-minute video on the blackcurrant harvest on the Sandringham Estate.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "During her reign, the Queen has always kept up to date with the latest technology. The visit to Google is another example and shows how willing she is to embrace new technology and change."

Google confirmed the Queen would be visiting the office, but was unable to go into detail citing security reasons.

If Her Majesty takes to looking herself up on YouTube, she may have a bone to pick with the staff she meets.

A quick search by Media Week for The Queen on YouTube this morning presented Britney Spears and the Sex Pistols as the number one and two results respectively, along with a trailer for the film The Queen, starring Helen Mirren.