SETTING: In the terrain somewhere near Balmoral Castle. Queen Elizabeth is hiking with a male staffer or acquaintance. They encounter two American hikers, a man and woman.
QUEEN ELIZABETH: (politely) Good day.
AMERICAN WOMAN (enthusiastically) Hello! Nice day!
QUEEN ELIZABETH: Where are you from?
AMERICAN MAN: We're Americans! How about you, where are you from?
QUEEN ELIZABETH: We're from London.
AMERICAN WOMAN Ah! Have you ever been here before?
QUEEN ELIZABETH: Oh yes. I have been coming here for eighty years, since I was a little girl.
AMERICAN WOMAN You've been here that many times? You must have met the Queen then! (neither of the Americans have any idea she is the Queen)
QUEEN ELIZABETH: (wryly) No, I have never met the Queen! (turns to her companion) Have you ever ever met the Queen? What's she like?
BRITISH MAN WITH QUEEN: (seriously) Well, I understand she can be very cantankerous, but is a lovely person.
AMERICAN WOMAN Oh!
BRITISH MAN WITH QUEEN: (reaches for the American man's camera, looks at the Queen) Here! Why don't I take a picture of you with these lovely people for their vacation!
QUEEN ELIZABETH: Of course. (squeezes in betwen the American tourists and poses)
BRITISH MAN WITH QUEEN: (as he and the Queen walk away, says to her) I sure would like to be a fly on the wall when they get back home and show those pictures to their friends!
Thanks very much for your post.
I heard the man tell that on TV the other day.
She seems to have been a funny, delightful person in private life. She may have taken her role very seriously, but I don’t think she took herself seriously at all.