Marcos: British PM’s wife broke protocol for selfie

The wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak broke protocol to ask for a selfie with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a London reception for the coronation of King Charles III.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the royal reception at Buckingham Palace in London on May 5, a day before the grand coronation of King Charles III. Marcos was joined by his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)

In a media interview, the President said Akshata Murthy, Sunak’s wife, asked for a selfie after being asked by one of their helpers—a Filipino—not to leave the reception without taking a photo with Marcos.

“So ang protocol doon sa reception, bawal mag-selfie. Eh asawa naman siya ng Prime Minister. Sabi niya, I’m going to violate the protocol because sabi raw nung kanilang kasama, kasambahay ay huwag kang aalis diyan hanggang makakuha ka ng picture kasama ng Presidente namin (So, the protocol in the reception is not to take a selfie. But she’s the wife of the Prime Minister. She said, I’m going to violate the protocol because their househelper told her not to leave until she has a picture with our President),” Marcos told reporters in Indonesia.

The Chief Executive and wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attended the coronation of King Charles III over the weekend, where he also met with Sunak and his wife.

He and the First Lady are now in Labuan Bajo for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Marcos said he talked with the British Prime Minister for about “six to seven minutes” about economic opportunities between the two countries.

The official invited Marcos for a more “proper” trip to the UK.

“We can’t do it now but we’ll do a proper trip for you to come to the UK and we’ll talk about it soon. That’s where we ended,” he added.

Sunak expressed his gratitude for Filipino workers, especially health workers during the pandemic.

Marcos said this is something that always crop up when he talks with world leaders.

“Yes. Well, this is the same thing that comes up every time I meet with leaders. Nagpapasalamat siya sa magandang trabaho ng mga Pilipino’t Pilipina doon sa NHS noong pandemic at kung puwede ba nating dagdagan, laging may kasunod na ganyan (He’s thankful for the good work of Filipinos and Filipinas there at the NHS during the pandemic and if possible to augment, it’s always like that),” he added.