A story told by the Queen’s former Royal Protection officer following her death summed up her “humility and wonderful sense of humour”.
Richard Griffin recalled the time he and Her Majesty, who died on Thursday aged 96, met two American tourists.
The amusing episode took place in the Scottish hills when they met the two hikers.
Mr Griffin recalled the heart-warming tale to Sky News.
He said: “It was obvious from the moment they stopped – they hadn’t recognised the Queen.”
When she told the American gentleman she had been visiting the area for over 80 years, he asked her: “Surely you have met the Queen?”
She replied, motioning to Mr Griffin: “Well I haven’t, but Dick here meets her regularly.”
Before the protection officer could stop him, the American put his arm around him, pulled out a camera, and handed it to the Queen asking for a picture.
He said: “And the Queen, bless her heart, takes the picture.”
Mr Griffin suggests they swap places, and the Queen poses for a photograph.
Afterwards the Queen turned to him and said: “I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he shows his friends back in America those pictures when hopefully someone will tell him who I am.”
Entertainer Jimmy Cricket described it on social media as “a lovely story”.
He said it illustrated “the humility and the wonderful sense of humour of the great lady”.
“R.I.P. Ma’am,” added Jimmy.
The Queen’s death ended the longest reign in British history – Her Majesty had celebrated 70 years on the throne earlier this year.
She was also the world’s oldest head of state.
Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland and her funeral takes place on Monday 19 September.
Her eldest son, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, has become King of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
He is now King Charles III.
Also read on this website: Christmas card features ‘naughty’ MPs and the Queen
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