Olivia Colman's salute in The Crown branded 'sloppy' and 'inaccurate' by disgruntled military veteran

A Times letter-writer just could not bear to see Olivia Colman’s “sloppy salute” in her portrayal of the Queen any longer.

In The Timesletter pages on Tuesday, Timothy Brown – formerly of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards of the British Army – wrote in about his passionate distaste not for Colman’s general acting performance in The Crown – but for her stance.

(Colman was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the show this year.)

Tom Knowles, Technology correspondent at The Times, brought the note to Twitter’s attention, writing: “The Times letter pages is NOT happy with the way Olivia Colman salutes in The Crown”.

The letter started sternly, “Sir, The Crown may well be good television but the inaccuracies in the series are typified by the sloppy salute that you picture being given by Olivia Colman in her attempt to portray the Queen.”

“To my recollection, Her Majesty’s salute has always been exemplary, with the forearm and hand being ramrod straight.”

Quick background on saluting: The British Army developed a salute with the palm facing outwards, also used by the Royal Air Force. The Royal Navy adopted a version with the palm facing downwards. Etiquette is, unsurprisingly, important while saluting. "It has been said that a sloppy salute is worse than not saluting at all," said the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Brown continued: “This may not perhaps be noticed by many viewers, but to us ex-military types, with a passion for standards, it is particularly galling.”

You heard it here first, Olivia Colman, if you are 'passionate' about 'standards', maybe time to re-think your salute.

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