Why the Queen was not amused by Berlusconi

During her 57-year reign, our calm and genial monarch has shaken the hands of hundreds of world leaders, forming friendships with a diverse range of statesmen from Nelson Mandela to Ronald Reagan.

And, unlike her outspoken husband Prince Philip, the Queen is always careful to keep her real opinions about the politicians she meets firmly under her hat.

But on the eve of the G20 summit, the grating tones of one boisterous Italian gentleman proved too much for even her practised royal ears to bear. After posing for the traditional "family" photograph at Buckingham Palace with the G20 leaders, Her Majesty was caught on film raising her arms in exasperation and openly berating Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, for unduly raising his voice.

The video clip, which has already become a huge hit on YouTube, begins with the Queen sitting amid the world's leaders to pose for four quick pictures during an official photo shoot. Although she initially appears to be in good humour, cracking a joke to a chuckling Gordon Brown while the photographs are being taken, her demeanour suddenly changes when Mr Berlusconi shouts, "Mr Obama, Mr Obama – Mr Berlusconi", in an attempt to get the US President's attention and introduce himself.

Turning to face the Italian leader, she sighs and raises her arm in frustration, before saying: "What is it? Why does he have to shout?" She turns away again but continues to look unimpressed, despite the best attempts of the British Prime Minister and other leaders to laugh the situation off.

The author of the footage, which was uploaded to the Italian YouTube site within hours, remains unknown. Visitors to Buckingham Palace are forbidden from recording anything using mobile phones or video cameras.

Yesterday, the incident made the front page of almost every Italian newspaper, with most using the opportunity to criticise Mr Berlusconi, 72, for bringing shame on his country. One cartoon showed a visibly distressed Queen putting her fingers in her ears as he shouted out, under a caption which read: "The Voice of Italy".

It is not the first time that the Italian Prime Minister has made a public diplomatic gaffe. In November last year, he described the newly elected Barack Obama as "young, handsome and also tanned". Upon being asked if his comment might be misinterpreted as a slight on Mr Obama's skin colour, he accused his opponents of not having a sense of humour, adding: "God save us from imbeciles."

Buckingham Palace yesterday denied that the Italian Prime Minister had caused the Queen any offence.