This article was originally published on WHerMoments
Joining the British royal family is undoubtedly a rather daunting affair, as Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle found to varying degrees. If anyone understood the pressures of life in the public eye, though, it was the late Queen Elizabeth II. And these poignant photos show that the monarch took it upon herself to show a softer side with her granddaughters-in-law.
40. The Queen and Kate share a giggle
It’s sometimes said that families that play together stay together – and the royals do seem to be a playful bunch. In this scene from 2012 the Queen and the Princess of Wales can't contain their giggles.
Although it’s not known exactly what the pair found funny, they were attending a sports event in a park in Nottingham, England, at the time.
39. Kate curtsies to the Queen on her wedding day
While the bride is usually the most important person at her wedding, it’s a little different if you have the Queen in attendance. As a result, then, when Kate married Prince William in 2011, she paid her respects to the monarch with a quick curtsy as she left the church with her new husband..
38. Kate greets the Queen with a kiss
When the royals attend official engagements, they are basically at work – meaning we usually only get to see them acting with the utmost professionalism. So, when Kate leaned in to greet her grandmother-in-law with a kiss on Christmas Day 2013, it reminded us all that the royals are just people after all..
37. The Queen and Meghan share a joke
When the Queen and Meghan Markle attended their first official engagement together just weeks after the actress married Prince Harry, the pair seemingly got on like a house on fire. Certainly, neither woman could contain their laughs as they attended the unveiling of the Mersey Gateway Bridge near Widnes, England, in June 2018..
36. The Queen takes Kate for tea
The Queen and Kate’s inaugural official engagement together came in March 2012, when the pair joined Camilla, now the Queen Consort, on a visit to London’s Fortnum & Mason. And while at the upmarket retailer, the trio received hampers before joining some of the store’s staff for a tea party..
35. Kate smiles at a portrait of the Queen
It appears that the mere sight of Elizabeth II was enough to bring a smile to Kate’s face. At least, when the Princess of Wales unveiled a portrait of the monarch at a 2014 reception in Wellington, New Zealand, she seemed to approve of the artwork – if her expression was anything to go by, anyway..
34. Meghan joins the Queen for her first royal Christmas
When a newly engaged Meghan joined the royals for their annual Christmas celebrations in Sandringham, England, in 2017, her presence marked a break from convention. That’s because it was the first occasion on which Harry had ever been accompanied by a partner for the day.
What’s more, Harry’s sister-in-law, Kate, had only begun to join in the royal festivities following her marriage to William in 2011.
33. The Queen and Kate sit front row at a fashion show
The students at England’s De Montfort University had some very important people visiting back in 2012, when the Queen and Kate attended a fashion show together at the institution. Perhaps the monarch got a taste for the catwalk at this event, too, as she would go on to make her first London Fashion Week appearance in 2018..
32. The Queen and Kate admire her royal wedding dress
Following William and Kate’s wedding, the bride’s stunning gown went on display at Buckingham Palace. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, who worked at the Alexander McQueen fashion house at the time; and, according to reports, the garment received the thumbs-up from the monarch, too..
31. The Queen and Kate share a moment at Princess Charlotte’s christening
Following Princess Charlotte’s christening in July 2015, the Queen was seen chatting to the then-Duchess of Cambridge as she transported her infant daughter. And there’s a good chance that the monarch may have recognized the pram Charlotte was in, given that she’d once used it for her own kids..
30. Kate and Meghan curtsy for the Queen
Curtseying is an important sign of respect within the British royal family. And while the rules on when and to whom to curtsy are complicated, in brief Meghan must curtsy for Kate, while both women should make the gesture towards the Queen while in her presence..
29. The Queen and Kate are amused by Charlotte and George
As a mother of four, a grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of seven, the Queen was well versed in the antics of children. And like any granny, her beloved grandkids often managed to make her smile, as this photograph of her proudly grinning at Prince George and Princess Charlotte proves..
28. The Queen and Kate pay their respects to the fallen
Elizabeth and Kate looked somber while dressed in black at a wreath-laying ceremony on Remembrance Sunday 2018. And the event was particularly poignant, as it took place exactly 100 years to the day after the armistice that ended the First World War..
27. The Queen and Kate bond over matching blooms
As a royal, the new Princess of Wales must receive gifts all the time. However, that didn’t prevent Kate and the Queen from looking elated when they accepted these bright blooms from well-wishers during an engagement in Leicester, England, back in 2012..
26. The Queen checks in on Kate and William at George’s christening
Kate and William looked happy to see the Queen as they arrived at George’s christening in 2013. The toddler, who was only three months old at the time, was baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St.
James’s Palace, with only 22 people attending the gathering.
25. The Queen beams at Meghan at Ascot
When the Queen attended Royal Ascot in June 2018, she seemed pleased to meet her grandson Harry and his new wife, Meghan, at the racecourse. The monarch – in a rather sunny yellow ensemble – chatted to the couple just one month after their stunning wedding day..
24. The Queen and Kate catch a train
Proving that royal transport isn’t always about gilded horse-drawn carriages, the Queen, Prince Philip and Kate took a train to Leicester as part of Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012. The British sovereign was said to be a fan of rail travel, too, and possessed her own private train..
23. The Queen demonstrates her royal wave for Meghan
Before Meghan married Harry, she had a lot to learn about royal procedure. The Duchess of Sussex could take her cues from the Queen herself when it came to waving, though; after all, Elizabeth had plenty of practice..
22. Kate joins the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee celebrations
In 2012 Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years on the British throne. And to mark the occasion, the royal family took to the Thames to watch a river pageant featuring 1,000 boats.
Yet while the weather on the day was wet and miserable, Kate’s spirits seemingly weren’t dampened.
21. Meghan joins the Queen center stage on the palace balcony
When Meghan joined the rest of the royals at Buckingham Palace to mark the 100-year anniversary of the British Royal Air Force in 2018, you certainly couldn’t miss her. And perhaps her position right next to the Queen meant that she had been embraced into the heart of the family, too..
20. The Queen and Kate open the annual summer show together
In July 2011 Kate joined the Queen for Buckingham Palace’s yearly opening to the public. And there was a treat in store for visitors that season, as an exhibition at the palace featured a variety of objects from Kate and William’s wedding..
19. The Queen and Meghan meet children
While out on their first official engagement together, the Queen and Meghan were greeted by some children at Chester Town Hall in England. And the monarch looked delighted to receive her bouquet from young Jack Jackson.
School pupil Abigail Grimes, who was celebrating her birthday, also gave Meghan some flowers.
18. The Queen and Kate join other royals to pose in their finery
The Queen and the then-Duchess of Cambridge looked very regal when they attended a reception for the Diplomatic Corps in 2016. For the event in Buckingham Palace, the pair were joined by their respective husbands as well as Charles and Camilla, now the King and Queen Consort..
17. Meghan and the Queen arrive in style
On their way north to Runcorn, Cheshire, the Queen and the Duchess of Sussex traveled overnight on the Royal Train, which has been used by the monarchy since 1840. And during their journey, both women will have had their own bedrooms – perhaps why they looked suitably refreshed at their destination..
16. The Queen can’t hide her love for Charlotte
As the Queen and Charlotte stood side by side on Buckingham Palace’s balcony during the 2016 Trooping the Colour, Elizabeth appeared to be peering at her great-granddaughter. Some royal commentators noted the striking physical similarities between the young princess and the monarch.
Charlotte is also said to have a passion for horses, just as her great-grandmother did.
15. Meghan and the Queen meet young leaders
The Queen and Meghan both looked suitably splendid at the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2018. The special event celebrated boys and girls from the Commonwealth who had all made a real difference to the world..
14. The Queen and Kate chat at a public outing
It appeared that the Queen and Kate had a lot to chat about during their visit to Leicester in 2012. And according to the now-Princess of Wales herself, the monarch was welcoming to her from the get-go.
As she told the Press Association in 2010, “[When] I first met [the Queen], she was very friendly.”
13. The Queen and Meghan greet crowds together
Wherever the Queen went, she drew impressive crowds. And Meghan got a taste of her grandmother-in-law’s fame when members of the public greeted her and Elizabeth on their visit to Chester.
Luckily, though, the then-new duchess took to her duties like a duck to water. She simply followed the Queen’s lead by chatting and smiling to individuals in the crowd.
12. The Queen and Kate catch eyes across the balcony
Even though they were very much on public view, the Queen and Kate still managed to share an intimate moment on the palace balcony at the 2012 Trooping the Colour. The pair grinned at each other warmly as they watched the traditional ceremony alongside other members of the royal family..
11. Meghan’s first balcony moment
Meghan attended her first Trooping the Colour in the weeks after her wedding to Harry. And it was the first time that the public had seen the new royal on Buckingham Palace’s famous balcony.
But rather than stealing the limelight, she stood back, allowing the Queen to be the focal point on her official birthday.
10. The Queen greets baby Charlotte at her christening
Kate was all smiles as she greeted guests at Charlotte’s christening back in 2015. And as the then-Duchess of Cambridge cradled her new daughter in her arms, the Queen approached her outside the church – with this lovely photograph capturing the resulting moment..
9. Meghan beams as Harry chats to the Queen
Rather adorably, Harry makes the Duchess of Sussex smile quite often. And at no time was this more evident than at Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
During the occasion, Meghan was spotted grinning from ear to ear as her husband and the Queen engaged in some light-hearted conversation.
8. Kate and the Queen talk across William
William was forced to play third wheel when he joined his grandmother and wife at a carriage procession for the Diamond Jubilee in London in 2012. The two women leaned across the future monarch in order to chat with each other – practically ignoring Will’s presence on the balcony..
7. The Queen and Meghan have different reactions to an RAF flypast
When Meghan joined the rest of the royals to celebrate 100 years of the Royal Air Force, she may have been keen to soak in every moment of the momentous occasion. The Queen, however, appeared more relaxed in her approach.
She smiled happily, while her granddaughter-in-law looked slightly more serious.
6. The Queen and Kate go underground
While the royals’ natural habitats include palaces and stately homes, they often venture to more mundane locations on official visits. Back in 2013, for example, Kate joined the Queen on an outing to the Baker Street Underground station in London.
The engagement marked the 150th birthday of the city’s famous subway system, which carries five million commuters per day.
5. Meghan and the Queen meet and greet in a library
During their visit to Chester, the Queen and Meghan opened the city’s Storyhouse – a cultural hub housing a library, a cinema and a theater. And to mark the occasion, the Duchess of Sussex met people involved with the project; she also enjoyed one of her very first ribbon-cutting ceremonies..
4. The Queen and Kate attend a reception at Buckingham Palace
This picture appears to capture a rare moment of quiet between the Queen and Kate in the corridors of Buckingham Palace, with the pair chatting to each other during a reception for the dramatic arts in 2014. At the event, the two royals met stars of television and film, including Dame Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Joan Collins..
3. Meghan lets the Queen take the lead as they arrive in Runcorn
In her previous life as an actress, Meghan was probably used to being the center of attention. But as a duchess, she was expected to follow the Queen’s lead whenever the pair were together.
As a result, when she and Elizabeth arrived in Runcorn, England, Meghan kept a good distance behind the monarch, appropriately enough, allowing her to greet the awaiting dignitaries first.
2. Meghan and the Queen visit school children
These lucky youngsters from Ash Grove Farm Nursery in Chester were seemingly on their best behavior when greeting the Queen and the Duchess of Sussex at the city’s Storyhouse. And their VIP visitors appeared impressed, too.
Harry had already expressed his and Meghan’s desire to have children of their own before the announcement of her first pregnancy in October 2018.
1. The Queen, Kate and Meghan find something very amusing
As the head of the royal family, the Queen always worked to maintain healthy relationships within her clan – and this photo seems to show just how well Kate, Meghan and Elizabeth could get on together. And despite disagreements between the Duchess of Sussex and the then-future Princess of Wales, the two women nevertheless seemed full of joy to be alongside their grandmother-in-law at the Trooping the Colour in 2018..
2. Try not to smile!
When Prince Harry graduated from Sandhurst military academy in 2006, the head of the Armed Forces was there to inspect the new cadets. And it just so happens that the head of the Armed Forces was none other than his granny! While his fellow graduates remained stoic and serious, Harry grinned as the Queen walked by, and whatever she said to him made his cheeks turn bright red..
3. All smiles
The Queen and Kate Middleton seemed to have a pretty close relationship. Here they are all smiles and deep in conversation at an event in Leicester, England, in 2012.
According to the now-Princess of Wales herself, the late Queen was welcoming from the very first time they spoke. She told the Press Association in 2010, “[When] I first met her...she was very friendly.”
4. Stress buster
“Given the strict official life she leads, I firmly believe the Queen finds humor a great stress buster, particularly given all the thousands of people she meets,” royal correspondent Richard Mineards told Vanity Fair in 2021. Here she is in the middle of a good giggle while meeting people on board the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1992..
5. Partying the night away
May 8, 1945, the end of World War II in Europe, was a very special occasion for the Queen. That was the only time she ever got to go out incognito and, well, party the night away.
We’ll never know exactly what the 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by her sister and 16 bodyguards, got up to — but it was probably lots of fun.
6. “I Am the QUEEN!”
This humorous anecdote might be hard to believe if it didn’t come from the world-famous star that is Elton John. In his 2019 memoir Me he remembered the Queen telling off her nephew Viscount Linley by lightly slapping him on the face and telling him, “‘Don’t’ — slap — ‘argue’ — slap — ‘with’ — slap — ‘me’ — slap — ‘I’ — slap — ‘am’ — slap — ‘THE QUEEN!’” Oh, to have been present for that..
7. Queen entertainer
The Queen was always able to bring a light touch even to very serious situations, especially when kids were involved. Here she is sharing a joke with the young daughter of DI James Beaton.
Beaton was a bodyguard who took three bullets protecting Princess Anne from a kidnapper, and thankfully he survived. You can practically feel the sheer relief radiating from this photo.
8. Marmalade sandwiches
The Queen got to show her funny side to the entire world when she made a cute video with Paddington Bear for her Jubilee Concert. Paddington’s a digital character and so wasn’t really there, of course, but it seemed like he was as he showed the Queen the marmalade sandwich he kept under his hat.
The Queen responded by opening her famous handbag and removing her own sandwich. Fans loved it.
9. Beefeaters
Here’s Queen Elizabeth II having a laugh with her Beefeaters, the strikingly dressed ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. Apparently, they got their name from a moment in medieval history when they were permitted to eat meat with the monarch if they so pleased, so let’s hope the Queen took them all out for burgers afterwards..
10. Hearty laugh
Queen Elizabeth appreciated the quick wit of other people as well. This pic from 1984 was originally captioned, “The Queen and Prince Philip enjoy a hearty laugh during a reception outside the Cornwall civic center yesterday.
As a Canadian Forces 414 squadron flew past; drowning out Mayor Gerald Parisien’s welcoming speech; the mayor deftly ad libbed [that] the flypast was planned at that very moment for the royal couple’s benefit.”
11. Toy time
This photo shows Princess Elizabeth being given a toy stove for the young Prince Charles to play with. We wonder if it was the idea of the heir to the throne using a stove that was so funny, or if she was just happy to be there.
One year later, she’d be Queen, and her life would change forever.
12. Light relief
Here Queen Elizabeth watches a horse race at Royal Ascot and shares a joke with someone very dear to her, her granddaughter Zara Tindall. According to royal expert Ingrid Seward, speaking to the website Fabulous Digital in 2019, the Queen always loved spending time with Zara and her husband Mike because they were “light relief” and she could “be herself around them.”.
13. A royal rollicking with Reagan
Queen Elizabeth met 13 presidents during her reign, but Ronald Reagan was said to be her favorite. They used to go horseback riding together, and by the looks of things, he found Her Majesty very funny.
Here she is making Reagan roar with laughter after a dry joke about the terrible Californian weather during her trip.
14. Very British weather
It seems the Queen used to get annoyed by the weather just like anyone else — or did she? In the 2015 Karen Dolby book The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II, politician Richard Crossman observed of the monarch, “When she is deeply moved and tries to control it, she looks like an angry thundercloud. So very often when she has been deeply touched by the plaudits of the crowd she merely looks terribly bad-tempered.”.
15. Oldie of the year
How cheeky do you have to be to offer the Queen an “oldie of the year” award? Very — but her response was pretty funny, too. The then-95-year-old sent a message back to the magazine who’d offered her the award, and it read: “Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient.”.
16. Inappropriate giggles
In 1990 some remarks by the Queen Mother leaked out and one anecdote was about the young Princess Elizabeth. According to her mom, Elizabeth had once laughed while none other than T.S.
Elliot was performing for her. “First the girls got the giggles, and then I did, and then even the King,” she told novelist A.N. Wilson, who relayed the funny story to the newspapers.
17. Chuckling with the troops
Gone are the days when the monarch had to be totally serious while meeting members of the armed forces. This photo shows Queen Elizabeth on an assault course speaking to Royal Marines recruits in Devon, England, but having a good laugh with them rather than giving orders or stern looks.
For those men it was almost certainly an experience they’ll never forget.
18. Laughs with Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth was the ceremonial monarch of many nations, including the Pacific island of Tuvalu. In 1982 she and Prince Philip visited for the first time, and the citizens put on a magnificent display for them, which Elizabeth clearly enjoyed very much.
Upon the Queen’s passing, Tuvalu’s acting prime minister Simon Kofe released a statement saying, “We were fortunate to have the Queen visit us... and we recognize her incredible commitment to service.”
19. Pointed prank
This anecdote highlights both the Queen’s sense of humor and her sense of fair play. In 1998 she met the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, a country where women weren’t allowed to drive.
So she took over as his chauffeur for the visit, and terrified the Crown Prince with her fast driving. He escaped unscathed but perhaps he learned something.
20. Swordplay
This hilarious pic was taken at the G7 Summit in 2021 and, yes, that’s a real sword. It was lent to the Queen by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and she liked it so much that she decided to cut her cake with it.
When told there was a knife she could use, the Queen politely responded, “I know there is. This is something that is more unusual.”
21. Horsing around
Throughout her long life and reign the Queen was very closely associated with the Royal Windsor Horse Show. She attended it regularly since 1943, the first ever show, which was staged to raise money for the war effort at the height of World War II.
The Queen actually won her first prize that year in the pony & dogcart class. No wonder she enjoyed herself so much.
22. Dropping the mic
Queen Elizabeth showed a whole different side to her in 2016, a side that the internet absolutely loved. She appeared in a cheeky video with Prince Harry and the Obamas to promote the prince’s incredibly successful Invictus Games.
The monarch looked at the Obamas’ previous fighting-talk video, dismissed it with “Oh really? Please,” and then Harry did a mic drop. What a moment.
23. Fun with Ford
Queen Elizabeth made a lot of world leaders laugh during the course of her reign — exactly the sort of thing you need when it comes to forging strong diplomatic relationships. The occasion pictured here was in 1976, when the United States was celebrating its 200th anniversary and the Queen was hosted at the White House by President Gerald Ford.
After dinner, they danced.
24. "Bloody ’ell, ma’am"
Perhaps you remember this incident from The Crown? In 1982 a drunk man broke into Buckingham Palace and got all the way into the Queen’s bedroom, which obviously caused her much distress. According to biographer Thomas Blaikie, she made light of it by imitating the chambermaid present at the time, walking around saying, “Bloody ’ell, ma’am, what’s ’e doin’ in ’ere?”.
25. Family resemblance
Here a young Elizabeth smiles with her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne as she awaits the arrival of the Queen Mother, who’s returning from a tour in 1956. It’s thought that Anne inherited the Queen’s sly sense of humor and those who know Anne have often talked about her quick wit.
No wonder mother and daughter were so close as adults.
26. Best gift ever
The royals don’t celebrate Christmas the way we do. They’re all so rich that they only ever exchange cheap, funny gag gifts.
That’s why Prince Harry, definitely not a man to let the opportunity for a joke pass him by, once bought the Queen a shower cap with “Ain’t life a bitch” emblazoned across it. And she thought it was absolutely hilarious.
27. Balmoral Fashion
Another underrated source of humor contributed by the Queen was all those fantastic expressions she made when watching her horses race. This shot was taken in 2015 as her fabulously named horse “Balmoral Fashion” competed in the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
And if you didn’t already know who she was, the Queen could almost pass here for just a random happy old lady.
28. Cake crisis
Cutting a cake can potentially be a tricky business if lots of people are watching. Don’t mess it up! But even the Queen messed it up once.
Photographer Chris Jackson described this photo to the Insider website in 2022: “If you look closely, you can see the knife stuck in the cake. It’s a great example of when things don’t always go to plan, it often makes the best photographs. Everyone bursts into laughter and it’s suddenly a relaxed moment.”
29. Miss Piggy
Believe it or not, the Queen knew who Miss Piggy was! And even related to her! The story goes that the Queen was watching a video of Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana when she turned to Philip and said, “Do look! I’ve got my Miss Piggy face on.” The palace staff even presented her with a Miss Piggy birthday card a few years later — and she burst out laughing..
30. Unexpected quip
When the Queen visited Northern Ireland in 2016, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness asked her, “Hello, are you well?” She responded wryly, “Thank you very much. Well, I’m still alive, anyway.” She was 90 years old at that point and, of course, she had more years left in her than that comment implied.
The Queen was a very impressive 96 when she passed away.
31. That James Bond line
Her Majesty stole the show at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony with her appearance in a James Bond sketch. The royal uttered those famous lines, “Good evening, Mr.
Bond,” to Daniel Craig’s double agent. When asked beforehand whether she wanted a speaking role by dresser Angela Kelly, the Queen insisted, “Of course I must say something. After all, he is coming to rescue me.”
32. Exhibitionism
You wouldn’t have expected the Queen to show up to an art exhibition of nude paintings. And yet that’s where she found herself at an event staged by renowned artist Lucian Freud.
But while looking at one particularly eye-catching painting, the royal couldn’t resist telling her aide to ensure that she wasn’t “photographed between a pair of those great thighs.”
33. Close encounters of the Queenly kind
Amazingly, some American tourists didn’t realize they were talking to the then Queen of England when they bumped into her during a walk at Balmoral. They even asked her if she’d ever met the Queen! D’oh! The royal’s response? “No, but he has” – while pointing to her security guard..
34. Grinning at the races
This shot is from 1973, when the Queen — wearing much more relaxed clothing than usual — was enjoying herself at the Windsor Horse Show. The original caption for this image read: “Pomp and circumstance are all right, but there’s nothing like a good laugh.” We bet the Queen, who often looked her happiest when she around horses, almost certainly would have agreed..
35. Young at heart
The monarch clearly didn’t appreciate Justin Trudeau’s speech celebrating her 63 years on the throne. In her whip-smart response, she said, “Thank you, Mr.
Prime Minister of Canada, for making me feel so old.” Trudeau later tried to make up for it by tweeting that the royal would always be “forever young.” A tad too late, we think!
36. Dead giveaway
The Queen proved she had a dark streak in 2016 when she rocked up at the Chelsea Flower Show. After learning about the poisonous effects of the lily of the valley plant from gardening expert Jekka McVicar, the monarch said, “I’ve been given two bunches this week.
Perhaps they want me dead.”
37. Throwin’ shade
How funny was Her Majesty? Well, in 2015 Karen Dolby wrote The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II. And one of the Queen’s most scathing quips in it was aimed at Princess Michael of Kent.
Apparently, Princess Michael mentioned she wanted to shoot HRH’s beloved corgis. The Queen then said, “They’re better behaved than she is.” Ouch!
38. Elephants – and monarchs – never forget
A sense of humor was often cited as one of the keys to Elizabeth and Philip’s long-lasting marriage. And while celebrating their 72nd anniversary, the monarch proved that she could still tease her beloved.
Appearing at a public event, the royal was heard to have asked very loudly, “What’s the date?”
39. Vacations before grandkids
We’re sure that Queen Elizabeth was excited about the arrival of her first ever great-grandson. But she also had other matters on her mind when asked about the impending birth of Prince George in 2013.
“I hope it arrives soon because I’m going on holiday,” the monarch said at a public engagement. Tough break, kid!
40. Bushism backfire
In 2007 George W. Bush accidentally stated that the royal had been present at the USA’s bicentennial celebrations in the 18th century.
And although Bush soon corrected himself, the Queen Elizabeth didn’t let him forget it. Making a formal dinner speech two days later, she quipped, “I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, ‘When I was here in 1776.’”
41. She’s the star
Pity the poor escort commander! During one state visit, a bodyguard tried to block well-wishers from getting a view of the monarch as she traveled around in a carriage. But apparently Queen Elizabeth soon reminded him that she was the star of the show! She quipped, “Actually, Captain, I think it’s me they’ve come to see.”.
42. Egging her on
In 1986 protesters in New Zealand threw eggs at both the Queen and the late Prince Philip during a tour of the country. But she wasn’t too traumatized.
She remarked, “New Zealand has long been renowned for its dairy produce, though I should say that I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.”
43. She’s a tease
Queen Elizabeth once went unrecognized when she was looking to buy some cake near her Sandringham estate. Well, kind of.
Because a passer-by did inform her of her notable resemblance to the monarch. “How reassuring” was said to be the royal’s reply — after essentially being told that she looked like herself.
44. For Queen Elizabeth’s eyes only
The third wife of James Bond star Roger Moore, Luisa Mattioli, once asked what many of us have thought over the years. During a visit to Buckingham Palace, Mattioli asked just why exactly the Queen carries around her purse all the time, even when she’s at home.
Well, the royal made a fair point when she answered, “This house is very big, you know.”
45. Not devoted to you
The Queen probably didn't have The Everly Brothers on her Spotify playlists. After listening to the pair’s rendition of “Cathy’s Clown” at a Royal Variety Performance in the 1960s, the monarch offered her verdict to her court lady.
And it wasn’t exactly a kind one. She compared the hitmakers’ song to “two cats being strangled.” Me-ow!
46. Niagara takedown
Niagara Falls is considered one of the most spectacular sights in North America. But the Queen didn’t seem particularly bowled over by its beauty during a visit to the Canadian landmark.
According to The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch simply commented, “It looks very damp.”
47. Who’s the boss
A security guard at the Royal Windsor Horse Show was no doubt left red-faced when he failed to recognize the guest of honor when she arrived. The man in question told the Queen that she wouldn’t be allowed to enter without the right pass.
“I think if you check, I will be allowed to come in,” was reported to be the Queen’s perfect response.
48. Sassy Queen
Her Majesty has no qualms about having a pop at those in power. During one Buckingham Palace reception, Margaret Thatcher had to quickly take to her seat after feeling faint.
This was the second consecutive year that the then-prime minister had reacted in such a manner. The royal didn’t have much sympathy, though, apparently remarking, “Oh, look! She’s keeled over again.”
49. Answering back
“Who do you think you are?” It’s the kind of question that most parents have asked their children during heated arguments. But the Queen was allegedly able to instantly silence her mother during an argument over the phone when she sassily answered, not incorrectly, “The Queen, mummy, the Queen.”.
50. Birthday one-liner
While making a toast at Prince Charles’ 70th birthday celebrations, the Queen took the opportunity to showcase her stand-up skills. She joked, “My mother saw me turn 70, of course.
And she was heard to observe that 70 is exactly the age when the number of candles on your cake finally exceeds the amount of breath you have to blow them out.”
51. Blow your own Trumpet
The Queen couldn’t stop cracking jokes when she took David Attenborough for a tour of Buckingham Palace’s gardens in 2018. While walking past an unhealthy sapling, the royal remarked, “Somebody sat on it, I think at a garden party.” She also blamed health and safety for putting an end to the game of conkers.
And when their chat was rudely halted by some overhead helicopters, the Queen said, “It sounds like President Trump.”
52. Cringe!
Guests at a Buckingham Palace reception were apparently left dumbstruck when French president General de Gaulle’s wife seemed to reply “a penis” when asked about the most exciting aspect of her retirement. But the Queen spared the lady’s blushes when she suddenly remarked, “Ah, happiness.” Phew!.
53. Fiery wit
Her Majesty certainly didn’t panic when Princess Margaret accidentally caught herself on fire during a festive get-together at Sandringham. According to Major Colin Burgess, the incident happened when the latter’s hair met with a lit candle.
Yet her locks were so thick that she didn’t realize until her sister coolly remarked, “Oh look, Margo’s on fire.” Luckily an alert staff member soon put the flames out.
54. Trashing royal protocol
Turns out that the Queen wasn't a stickler for the rules...some of the time, anyway. While recalling her 2016 trip to Windsor Castle, Michelle Obama remarked, “I had all this protocol buzzing in my head, and I was like, ‘Don’t trip down the stairs and don’t touch anybody, whatever you do.’ The Queen said ‘just get in, sit wherever’ and she’s telling you one thing and you’re remembering protocol and she says ‘Oh it’s all rubbish, just get in.’”.
55. Charming China
You may not know this but Queen Elizabeth II helped to improve the United Kingdom’s relations with China. In 1986 she visited Chinese President Li Xiannian, bringing with her a pair of priceless lion artworks that’d been looted from his country in 1900.
It’s clear her diplomacy, charm, and that all-important sense of humor helped win over both politicians and the general public.