Royal Navy ordered to turn ship's guns around - because they were pointing at Michelle Obama's hotel room

Did you REALLY think the British were going to blast you, Mrs O? Royal Navy ordered to turn ship's guns around - because they were pointing at Michelle Obama's hotel room

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Did you REALLY think the British were going to blast you, Mrs O? Royal Navy ordered to turn ship's guns around - because they were pointing at Michelle Obama's hotel room

By Paul Bentley

Overreaction? The UK ship was warned by agents to reposition the guns

A British Royal Navy ship was ordered to turn its guns around because they were parked pointing at a hotel room Michelle Obama was staying in.

Fearing the First Lady might be in danger, minders ordered the captain of the HMS Edinburgh stationed in Cape Town, South Africa, to switch them away from her five-star suite.

The U.S. agents have since been accused of overreacting after it emerged the Sea Dart missiles were, in fact, loaded with blanks having been used during a ceremony in honour of a sailor who had died.

Former Royal Navy officer Mike Critchley told the Daily Mirror: 'This is typical American Secret Service going over the top.

'I would have thought that they could trust their British allies to not put a missile through the bedroom window of the First Lady. It is unfortunate that this happened at an extremely sad time for the ship.'

Mrs Obama was on an official visit to South Africa in June and was staying in a luxury suite at the five star Table Bay Hotel.

The boat, meanwhile, happened to be in the middle of a ceremonial routine to remember Lieutenant Sara Hellawell, a 26-year-old whose body was found onboard a few days before.

That did not stop the agents raging at them, saying: 'You can’t point those guns at the First Lady.'

Describing the ceremony, a Navy spokesman said: 'This involved the drill missiles being on their launcher. American officials did visit the ship. They simply wanted to know if the missiles were live. When it was explained that they were drill rounds they went away content.'

A White House spokesman told the Mirror: 'We do not comment on ­security questions regarding the First Lady.'

Threat? US agents told a Royal Navy warship to stop pointing its missiles at Michelle Obama's hotel room

The revelation came as the First Lady dazzled at a state dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the White House.

Hemlines were soaked and raindrops spattered tuxedos, but not even a thunderous downpour could dampen the excitement of guests at one of Washington's most exclusive social events.

'President Lee has had a very full day - and a very wet day,' Mr Obama said at the event.

No need to panic: HMS Edinburgh's missile turrets were in fact carrying blanks. She's pictured here anchored off the Falkland Islands during a commemoration ceremony Read more at www.dailymail.co.uk

 

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