17 October 2008

The new cutting-edge silver surfer – Her Majesty?

As you may have noticed, the Google UK homepage logo was given a makeover for a special occasion yesterday - the Queen's visit to Google's UK Headquarters. The logo was a specially commissioned "Google doodle" including the Queen's profile and a crown. The internet giant was given the royal seal of approval when she had a fit of giggles during the visit.

The royal party were charmed by the clip of the infectious laugh of a baby on the company's YouTube video site. She remarked "Lovely little thing isn't it. Amazing a child would laugh like that."

During the visit, the monarch met staff including software engineers and senior managers. She also had an opportunity to talk to 16 schoolchildren who had won a competition to design new "doodles" for the firm. The Duke of Edinburgh met Matthew Trewhella, a developer advocate who promotes his organisation's products to companies. The Google worker, who was dressed casually in a hooded top, chinos and trainers - in line with the company's dress code 'staff must wear something' -, was asked by the Duke, "Just come back from jogging?" When introduced to "Geriatric 1927", an 81-year-old internet granddad who posts regular video diaries, the Duke asked: "You like everybody to know what you are doing?"

Nikesh Arora, president of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented on the Queen during her visit, saying: "She did seem very, very interested in everything going on. Her guide was YouTube's co-founder Chad Hurley. "During their time at Google, Prince Philip had a ball. He was the more animated of the two, fizzing with questions and observations.

It is reported that the Queen keeps in touch with her grandchildren through e-mail. According to Buckingham Palace, the Queen first sent an e-mail during a visit to an army base in 1976. She once e-mailed Prince Harry when he was at an England rugby match.

In 1997, when she launched her website, she described how some parents and grandparents found the worldwide web "a bit of a mystery" and just a few years ago she confessed to Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, that she had not yet used a computer.

The Queen's Christmas message is available as a podcast, with her website being updated regularly and even her own Royal Channel on YouTube, which features a range of videos including the Queen Mother's wedding in 1923 and 'A day in the life of The Prince of Wales'. During her visit to Google UK HQ she uploaded a video clip from a reception held at Buckingham Palace for returning Olympians in 1968.

The decision by the Queen to visit Google's UK headquarters was sparked by a desire to move with the times. In 1957, when the Queen delivered her first televised message, she acknowledged the need to adapt to changing times. Over 50 years later she is still continuing this belief.

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