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Privacy NoticeThroughout Queen Elizabeth II’s incredible 70-year reign, she seamlessly mastered the art of engaging and disengaging with the countless individuals she met, wielding her politeness as a tool for brief but meaningful exchanges. This acquired finesse was a result of her extensive experience with innumerable events such as line-ups, garden parties, and investitures. Despite having devoted her entire life to royal service with unparalleled grace, there was one aspect of her role that the late monarch reportedly wished she could change and experience from the other side. Unfortunately for the Queen, though, it was something that happened almost everywhere she went owing to her position.
The late Queen reportedly disliked one part of her job
(Image: Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images)
Royal expert Adam Heliker revealed that a former equerry told him what The Queen did not enjoy about her position. He said: “The equerry revealed, ‘One summer day she asked me to join her on a walk at Balmoral. She talked about how irritating it was to go into a party and as she put it, watch people peel away, like the water parting as the bow of a ship ploughed through it. “‘She said she always felt it would be lovely to just slip into a party, wandering around incognito, talking to anyone she felt like. But the thing that most irritated her was the ‘inevitable hush’ that always greeted her when they saw her walking in'”.
The late Queen could guarantee attention wherever she went
(Image: Leon Neal – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
While The Queen longed for moments of anonymity, she actually pulled it off back during the celebrations on VE Night in 1945. Her stealthy exploits on that extraordinary night came to light during an exclusive BBC interview in 1985 on the event’s 40th anniversary. “I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life,” she confided. Describing their efforts to go unrecognized, The Queen disclosed: “We were terrified of being recognised, so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes. A Grenadier officer among our party of about 16 people said he refused to be seen in the company of another officer improperly dressed, so I had to put my cap on normally.”
Princess Elizabeth served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)
(Image: PA/PA Wire)
She added: “I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief. I also remember when someone exchanged hats with a Dutch sailor; the poor man coming along with us in order to get his hat back.” Sharing her recollections too, The Queen’s first cousin Margaret Rhodes recounted: “Trafalgar Square was jammed. It was a scene of joyful whoopee full of people kissing policemen and other people. It was complete.” Margaret revealed a cheeky anecdote from the past, saying at 11.30pm they “decided to go in the front door of the Ritz and do the conga. The Ritz was so stuffy and formal that we rather electrified the stuffy individuals inside. I don’t think people realised who was among the party I think they thought it was just a group of drunk young people. I remember old ladies looking faintly shocked. As one congaed through, eyebrows were raised.”
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret joined the King and Queen on the balcony a number of times
(Image: Getty)
The Queen reminisced about that historic night, sharing: “We were successful in seeing my parents on the balcony, having cheated slightly by sending a message into the house, to say we were waiting outside.” In his 9pm broadcast to the nation, King George VI expressed his gratitude and hope for the future, declaring: “We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in goodwill.” Throughout the afternoon and evening, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made an incredible eight appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony, joined numerous times by the two princesses and Winston Churchill.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnQueen Elizabeth IIRoyal FamilyBuckingham PalacePrincess MargaretKing George VIQueen Mother
