The queen's friend, and cousin, Margaret Rhodes died recently, and seeing the above photo reminded me of a strange encounter.
It must have been around 1985, and I'd heard that Her Majesty was coming to Brighton for some matter of state.
I was walking along a deserted back road near my home when I saw the royal car approaching in the distance. I was completely alone in the road, and almost panicked wondering what I should do.
Should I just stop and bow my head as she went by? Should I take out my handkerchief and wave enthusiastically? Or should I look the other way and pretend I hadn't seen her?
As it happened I just stood still, looked amazed, and watched as Her Majesty and her friend Margaret Rhodes both looked at me and SMILED. They must have understood my embarrassment.
Of course I smiled back. The scene was exactly as in the photo; and probably the same car!
My, God, but she looks like my late mother-in-law! What a shock!!
ReplyDeleteIs that a good or bad thing?
DeleteAnother story for the grandchildren. We were sitting in a crowded hospital in Athens the other day and a Greek TV star walked past with his wife. A ten second thrill. Interesting to see these people up close
ReplyDeleteI'd seen The Queen a few times before, but never being totally alone. It was a very odd experience.
DeleteWhat a fun story.
ReplyDeleteNot quite the Queen but I remember walking back from a Dodger Game with just a few people around it was a quiet side entrance and who do I walk by but Cary Grant. He was smiling (they won) and I didn't want to bother him so just kept walking and smiled right back at him. I can't remember why I was at this entrance but it was such a Hollywood moment.
What a hoot !
cheers, parsnip
Cary Grant; wow!
DeleteThat must have been amazing! In a similar vein......many years ago I was walking along a pavement in Harpenden, no one else around, and I realised that Eric Morecambe was coming towards me. Same dilemma, whether to look at him, not look at him, talk to him....curtseying didn't come into the equation I have to say. In the end as we passed he looked at me and nodded and smiled and I think I did the same. I occasionally chat to Joan his wife, when I see her in Waitrose as I met her at a kids football match some years ago after Eric died. She had turned up as President of The Colts, and the organisers greeted her when she arrived and then dumped her on her own, so I went and chatted to her for about half an hour. Delightful lady.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it must be as difficult for them as it is for us; just meeting in the street like that. In the late 60's I lived in Chelsea which was awash with celebs. We just took it for granted.
DeleteHer Majesty was probably being told the joke about The Englishman, Irishman and the Scot who......
ReplyDeleteIn the photo Prince Philip had just told them that one; he was sitting facing backwards.
DeleteOne of my subjects. smile, quick.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it was worse than that.
DeleteLove it !!!
ReplyDeleteI felt very awkward at the time.
DeleteI was almost run-over by Princess Margaret's car speeding through Bath late one night. I looked shocked too.
ReplyDeleteNothing would surprise me about that Margaret; only that it wasn't a motorbike.
DeleteOne of our late night hosts (David Letterman) used to have a segment on his show called "Brush with Greatness", where people would tell of their short, unexpected meeting with someone famous. You would have won.
ReplyDelete20 years ago my son met Donald Trump at a party in NY. He was not impressed.
I hope you've told your son to keep quiet about his meeting Trump.
DeleteI like the photograph of the Queen and her cousin, having a happy moment.
ReplyDeleteLiving in New York for ages has provided many opportunities to encounter famous folks in fairly low key settings.
Nowadays, I don't really know what many young celebrities look like, and would never recognize them.
That, Frances, is one of the advantages of ageing. When I lived in London, celebs were two a penny; we just ignored them.
DeleteOh, Queen Elizabeth cruises past me all the time because I live on Royal Avenue. I enjoyed all the stories in the comments.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I was talking about the woman; not the ship!
DeleteIt got pretty wet here during Hurricane Matthew but not wet enough for a ship!
Delete