My first book “What The Queen said to me…” is a collection of anecdotal stories told by some lovely people who have had that very rare opportunity to meet and speak with The Queen.
Chilli Brener
A witty, charming and interested woman, The Queen, in my humble experience, tailor makes every conversation and talks relevantly to people from all walks of life. Her Majesty has made many people feel incredibly special just by the few words she says and that is what I wanted to get over to the ‘not so lucky ones amongst us’ who have not had that experience.
The list below are snippets from the book and include extracts one wouldn’t expect to hear from Her Majesty
10 things The Queen has said that one wouldn’t expect:
1. The Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead was told that in the last 12 years whenever The Queen was asked if she would like a cup of tea, the answer was always a categorical ‘NO - The Queen always declines a cup of tea, fact!’Not on this occasion though. Without any contingency plan in place The Queen said ‘YES’ to the tea question. Startled, like a deer in headlights, the search was on for some fine china and some tea bags!
2. In Great Windsor park for a number of years, amongst many other children, a little girl waved her schools red beret at The Queen. A few years later at a walkabout this little girl, very excitedly and in a very high pitched voice, squealed and squeaked at The Queen. “ Do ya, do ya remember me?, do you, I was in the park and waving at you, Do you remember?”The Queen, very calmly, bent down to the girl and said “Do you know, I think I do”
Charming and considerate. This reply made the girls day, month and year.
3. “So I see you two are still friends”
This was said to Olympic rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning when they received their MBE’s after winning gold in London.
4. Gremlins at Buckingham Palace! This is a story that needs to be read.
5. ‘You must have a lot of puff to blow them” The Queen talking of the bagpipes to piper Bernie.
6. ‘I rather think you have done me before” The Queen talking to Charles Burns, the most amazing silhouette artist ever.
7. Talking of the difficultly in recruiting new leaders to the Girl Guides. The Queen clearly understood and had heard the complaint before, she replied with “That’s what they all say”.
8. Holding a Union flag on The Queen’s trip to Thailand, The Queen very gently informed a young lad that she was very happy for the warm welcome but they were holding the flag upside down. Ooops.
9. “Good jump” This was the only thing that Sophie could remember the year The Queen shouted this at her whilst show jumping in Windsor. All other memories erased but this one still like it was yesterday. It was in the 1980’s!
10. Lastly but by no means least. When The Queen was wafting smoke away at the 1979 celebrations for the UN International Year of the Child and the children started singing in time to her wafting and out of time with the band, The Queen said afterwards: “I think it was all my fault. I think they thought I was conducting them”.
According to those few people who have met and spoken with The Queen, she is Charming, Witty, thoughtful and stoic. She listens intently and everyone I have met feels very special and privileged to have had that moment.
Happy 91st Birthday Your Majesty.
Chilli Brener and on behalf of all my contributors.
