* Friday 09 January 2015 * Apps * eBooks * i Jobs * Dating * Shop The Independent [i100-radx2.jpg] * News + UK o Home News o UK Politics o Scottish independence o Crime o Weird News + World o Europe o Americas o Middle East o Asia o Africa o Australasia o World Politics o World History o Novaya Gazeta (English) o WW1 Moments + Business o Business News o Business Comment o Business Analysis & Features o Sharewatch o SME o Market News o Market Epic o Market Heatmaps o Market Screener o Business Directory o ES Business Connections o Create a business profile + People + Science + Environment o Climate Change o Green Living o Nature + Media o Opinion o TV & Radio o Press o Online o Advertising + Technology + Education o News o Schools o Further o Higher o Primary Tables 2011 o Secondary Tables 2012 o Training & Courses o MBA & Executive + Images + Obituaries + Diary + Corrections + Newsletter + Appeals * Video * People * Voices * Sport * Tech * Life * Property * Arts + Ents * Travel * Money * IndyBest * Student * Offers Charlie Hebdo Ched Evans Homeless Veterans Campaign George Osborne Greece Michael Gove News > World > Americas British Embassy celebrates burning down of White House in 'tasteless' tweet [white-house-fencev2.jpg] [white-house-fencev2.jpg] Light-hearted diplomatic trolling is met with a fierce rebuke Rob Williams Author Biography [rob-williams.jpg] Rob Williams Rob Williams is Production Editor (Web/Apps) at The Independent. He was formerly Senior Online Reporter. He has worked for The Independent since 2008. More articles from this journalist Follow Rob Williams Monday 25 August 2014 Print Your friend's email address ____________________ Your email address ____________________ Send Reset Note: We do not store your email address(es) but your IP address will be logged to prevent abuse of this feature. Please read our Legal Terms & Policies A A A Email The UK's special relationship with the US endured a minor social media inspired blip yesterday when the British Embassy was forced to apologise for apparently celebrating the 200th anniversary of the burning of the White House On the @UKinUSA Twitter account, the British Embassy posted a picture and caption that was clearly meant as a light-hearted trolling of Americans. Many of them, however, appeared not to get the joke. Posted below a picture of a cake shaped like the White House, which had been decked out with sparklers, the British Embassy wrote the comment: "Commemorating the 200th anniversary of burning the White House. Only sparklers this time!" A number of Twitter users responded angrily to the tweet. Yossi Gestetner ‏wrote: ‘HELLO David Cameron. The tweet by [the British Embassy] is of poor taste. Disappointed in the Conservatives.’ "Even if Talking Heads were singing it, I think this is in extremely POOR TASTE," wrote another Twitter user. Commemorating the 200th anniversary of burning the White House. Only sparklers this time! pic.twitter.com/QIDBQTBmmL — British Embassy (@UKinUSA) August 24, 2014 Another user said: “Good to know the US isn't the only country with a mentally deficient diplomatic corps that doesn't know how to tweet.” Just three hours later the embassy was forced into a retreat and issued an apology to dozens of angry Americans. The chastened Embassy social media staff wrote: "Apologies for earlier Tweet. We meant to mark an event in history & celebrate our strong friendship today," before posting a link to a an essay written by Deputy Head of Mission Patrick Davies. His article, entitled 'The Torch of Friendship' details the history behind the siege on Washington in August 1814. The siege or burning of Washington was an attack during the war of 1812 by British forces and those of the United States of America. The American troops had been defeated by at the Battle of Bladensburg by troops led by Major General Robert Ross. Apologies for earlier Tweet. We meant to mark an event in history & celebrate our strong friendship today http://t.co/gs3heJDMzt — British Embassy (@UKinUSA) August 25, 2014 His forces later went on to occupy then Washington City and destroy a number of buildings, including the White House. "Needless to say, we've put the events of August 1814 far behind us," Mr Davies writes. "So much so, in fact, that when the British prime minister, David Cameron, visited the White House two years ago, he and President Obama, fresh from watching a March Madness basketball game together, traded wisecracks about the burning. The redcoats 'made quite an impression,' Obama said. 'They really lit the place up.'" "I can see you've got the place a little better defended today," Cameron replied. "You're clearly not taking any risks with the Brits this time." Although many Twitter users appeared to have found the comment offensive one user at least found the Tweet enjoyable, writing: "hat tip for the sheer ballsiness of this post!" World News in Pictures Start your day with The Independent, sign up for daily news emails Enter URL: http://_____________ Enter URL: http://_____________ Voices 'I knew I had to express defiance because I wanted to be true to the spirit of the magazine' voicesThe Independent's cartoonist on his response to Paris atrocity News Police investigators search for evidence as an unidentified man is detained (L) during an operation in the eastern French city of Reims, after the shooting against the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo 'I am going to buy a lottery ticket. This is the luckiest day of my life' i100Man tells of moment he came face to face with Paris gunmen News Anjem Choudary says he knew the suspect Michael Adebolajo Choudary: 'Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression' news Voices Anders Behring Breivik gives a Nazi salute in a Norwegian courtroom 'Norway's Christians didn't have to apologise for Breivik, and it's the same for Muslims now' voices PROMOTED VIDEO Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps? ebooks Andy McSmith: The Diary 2014 ebooksA year of political gossip, levity and intrigue from the sharpest pen in Westminster News Stephen Fry Stephen Fry calls for the world to publish Charlie Hebdo cartoons people'The pen will still flourish when their guns have rusted' News Snoop Dogg 'facing law suit' over 'homophobic' Instagram post people News Clegg's powerful response to a man trying to justify the Paris shootings i100 News 'Father of modern gospel music' recorded by Elvis, Madonna and Michael Jackson, dies people Andraé Crouch has died aged 72 Sport Lionel Messi Live transfer news: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea latest rumours football Arts and Entertainment The release dates you've been waiting for: Game of Thrones season 5 tv How many days to go until the long wait is over? 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Pornhub star Mia Khalifa receives death threats after being ranked site's top adult actress + 5 Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler dance in Sia's 'Elastic Heart' video Sia responds to criticism for 'Elastic Heart' music video that sees Shia LaBeouf wrestle 12-year-old Maddie Ziegler + Charlie Hebdo attacks: Prophet Mohammed cartoons republished by Danish newspaper in wake of Paris incident + Stephen Fry calls on the world's media to defiantly publish Charlie Hebdo cartoons + French police at the scene of the Charlie Hebdo massacre yesterday Charlie Hebdo: Classmates protest innocence of suspect Hamyd Mourad, 18, with school alibi + Police officers and firefighters gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after armed gunmen stormed the offices leaving Charlie Hebdo shooting: At least 12 killed as shots fired at satirical magazine's Paris office + Anjem Choudary believes that France provoked the Charlie Hebdo shooting Anjem Choudary on the Charlie Hebdo attacks: 'Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression' + Police officers and firefighters gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after armed gunmen stormed the offices leaving Charlie Hebdo shooting: At least 12 killed as shots fired at satirical magazine's Paris office Adam Withnall, John Lichfield + Ukip leader Nigel Farage pictured in November Nigel Farage: Ukip would get rid of foreign NHS workers who 'can't speak English properly' Adam Withnall + Dave Brown's illustrative take on the Paris attack for the Friday 9 edition of The Independent Charlie Hebdo: Norway's Christians didn't have to apologise for Anders Breivik, and it's the same for Muslims now Mark Steel + Anjem Choudary believes that France provoked the Charlie Hebdo shooting Anjem Choudary on the Charlie Hebdo attacks: 'Muslims do not believe in the concept of freedom of expression' Helen Nianias + Nick Clegg 'dismayed' at Nigel Farage blaming 'gross policy of multiculturalism' for Charlie Hebdo attacks Kiran Moodley + Nuclear power is key to protecting the environment, biologists say in their letter Nuclear power is the greenest option, say top scientists Steve Connor independent images Police officers and firefighters gather in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after armed gunmen stormed the offices leaving Charlie Hebdo shooting Newspapers removed from a time capsule, which was placed under a cornerstone of the State House in 1795, sit in archival boxes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Boston time capsule Demonstrators at an anti-Islamic rally in Dresden Pegida protests Incredible fruit & veg art Jesus trial site 'found' Travel: Amazing floating hotel 8 January 2015: French police assist a woman after a shooting in the street of Montrouge World news in pictures 8 January 2015: A man who had just placed a pair of pencils and a note offering sympathy to the victims of the Paris shootings on a wall at the French Embassy stands with a woman in contemplation under a Union flag umbrella in London UK news in pictures 8 January 2015: A visitor looks at 'Song for Coal' a new large-scale kaleidoscope projection by Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson which opens on the 10 January in the 18th Century Chapel at Yorkshire Sculpture Park Arts + Ents news in pictures 8 January 2015: (R-L) Evgeniy Belov of Russia competes ahead of Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway, and Calle Halfvarsson of Sweden during the men's FIS Tour de ski cross-country skiing 25km free pursuit race in Toblach Sport news in pictures + < Previous + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + Next > Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps? 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View the latest from iJobs Day In a Page + Sun + Mon + Tue + Wed + Thu + Fri + Sat [9_] [January__] [2015] (Submit) Go Homeless Veterans appeal: From action in Kosovo to the corridors of power, a former soldier turns her life around Homeless Veterans appeal From action in Kosovo to the corridors of power, a former soldier turns her life around Expo World Fair 2015: Italy's bid for a Mafia-free event already looks doomed Expo World Fair 2015 Italy's bid for a Mafia-free event already looks doomed Technology firms want every device connected to the internet - but is that what consumers want? Consumers say no to 'Internet of Things' Tekkies want every device connected to the internet, but many of us suspect we're being sold gimmicks Prosecco is now outselling champagne in the UK - but could the EU call time on the party? Could the EU call time on the Prosecco party? Italians are not pleased with the idea that British pubs are presenting fizz from kegs like frothy beer Guilt-free gourmets: The latest healthy-eating bloggers are providing culinary inspiration to a new generation of conscious eaters Meet the guilt-free gourmets The latest healthy-eating bloggers are providing culinary inspiration to a new generation of conscious eaters 10 best men's sleepwear 10 best men's sleepwear From PJ sets for traditionalists to lounging gear for lazy Sundays, we find the comfiest bedwear for blokes Paul Scholes column: At first, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra looked out of their depth... now they are Manchester United legends Paul Scholes column At first, Vidic and Evra looked out of their depth... now they are Manchester United legends Steven Gerrard to LA Galaxy: Not even a Liverpool legend will make Angelenos fall in love with 'soccer' Not even Gerrard will make Angelenos fall in love with 'soccer' The midfielder's move has been hailed by hardcore fans, but most in La La Land still struggle with the game Andy Moles: 'My family are not happy I'm doing this,' says Afghanistan's World Cup coach Andy Moles: 'My family are not happy I'm doing this' The former county stalwart will coach Afghanistan at the World Cup but, even if the fans celebrate with AK47s, he does not believe he is a target Homeless Veterans appeal: ‘For three years I was walking the streets. I owe Veterans Aid my life. It’s been a miracle’ ‘For three years I was walking the streets. I owe Veterans Aid my life. It’s been a miracle’ A former Royal Marine on his battle with alcoholism The tragic story of a Gaza family drowned on a smugglers' boat as they tried to escape the death and destruction that claimed the lives of four young relatives The tragic story of a Gaza family Thirty members drowned on a smugglers' boat as they tried to escape the death and destruction that claimed the lives of four young relatives 70th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation: 'Why I had to visit this monstrous memorial' 'Why I had to visit Auschwitz' Simmy Richman, who had long believed that visits to the concentration camp were little more than macabre tourism, took a journey that he never thought he'd take Comedy writer Dan Swimer: 'I'm in awe of Jack Whitehall and Sacha Baron Cohen' Dan Swimer on being in the spotlight As a writer on 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' and 'Grandma's House', Swimer is the unsung star of some of the best TV comedy of the past decade Once the stuff of history, airships are making a surprise return - from Nasa to Bedfordshire Airships are making a surprise return Christopher Beanland looks at the rise, fall and possible rise again of the giant dirigible and asks if this comeback will fly Author Joan Didion is unveiled as model for ultra-chic fashion label Céline Joan Didion is unveiled as latest Céline model And that's not the only sign that the literary lioness has a curious cult following... + Terms & Policies + Privacy Policy + Cookie policy + Code of Conduct + Complaint form + Email newsletters + RSS + Live Blogs + About i100 + Contact Us + Subscriptions + Apps + Work for us + Evening Standard + Homes & Property + iJobs + News video + Sport video + Advertising Guide + Syndication + Novaya Gazeta (English) + ES Business Connections + ES Rentals + London Live © independent.co.uk The Independent Please provide search keyword(s) ____________________ Go + Advanced search + Article archive + Topics