Moments that made the Queen
To celebrate 70 years on the throne, we look at the little things that make a big difference to why we love the monarch
She is the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee and the Queen reaches her record-breaking 70 years on the throne today, February 6.
Kerry compiled 70 moments that made us love the Queen for The Sunday Telegraph. We don’t have room for the whole list here, so we’ve picked our top 20. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
Her pandemic speech
The Queen’s pandemic speech in 2020. Pic: Royal Family Instagram We turned to the Queen for reassurance when the pandemic first hit and she delivered a message of hope from Windsor Castle: “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
When Windsor burned
When the Queen’s beloved Windsor Castle caught fire on November 20, 1992, the sight of her standing guard in her raincoat, wellies and headscarf, was extremely moving.Her heartbreak at Prince Philip’s funeral
The image of the Queen, hunched, alone in her pew at the funeral of the love of her life, on April 17, 2021, will stay with us forever.
Her James Bond moment
Daniel Craig and the Queen. Pic: BBC She’s made many speeches, but “Good evening, Mr Bond,” was the most surprising, when the 86-year-old Queen agreed to join Daniel Craig as 007 and “parachute into the Olympic stadium” for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Best moment, ever.
Comforting survivors of Grenfell
In June 2017, the Queen and Prince William turned up unannounced to Grenfell Tower, after the London tower block caught fire, killing 72 residents. She was close to tears and onlookers burst into applause for her showing up.Dancing at Charles and Diana’s wedding
The Queen was so happy to see Prince Charles marry Diana in 1981, biographer Robert Lacey says she did a little jig at the after party at Claridge’s.Remaining calm during a break-in
When on July 9, 1982, the Queen woke up to find intruder Michael Fagan at her bedside, he later said she simply stated, “What are you doing here?”, before walking out.An assassination attempt
Showing the woman is truly made of steel, when she was shot at whilst riding in the Trooping the Colour in 1981, the Queen steadied her horse and calmly carried on.Thinking nobody would come to V.E. Day
An iconic image of the Queen, Queen Mother and Princess Margaret at the 50th anniversary of V.E. Day Biographer Ingrid Seward said the Queen didn’t think anyone would turn up to the 50th anniversary of V.E. Day in 1995 and was almost in tears when she, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret went onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace and saw a huge crowd.
Queen as Gan-Gan
We love that Prince George calls the Queen Gan-Gan, although secretly wish Prince William’s toddler name of Gary had stuck.Her joke in Balmoral
Former protection officer Richard Griffin once revealed the Queen played a prank in Balmoral after American tourists spotted her walking and asked her if she had ever met the Queen. She replied, “No, but this policeman has.”Handing over her handbag to Mia
The Queen’s fabulous photo for her 90th birthday. Pic: Annie Leibovitz/The Royal Family One of our favourite photos was taken by Annie Leibovitz in 2016, to mark her 90th birthday. The Queen, surrounded by her great-grand-children, told Mia Tindall to hold her handbag in order to keep her quiet.
Batty for Balmoral
The Queen adores Balmoral, with all its ageing interiors. One of her favourite past-times is catching the colony of pipistrelle bats that live there, with nets.Enjoying things going wrong
The Queen particularly enjoys it when special events suffer mishaps. At her 1977 Silver Jubilee, organiser Major Sir Michael Parker told the Queen, “Your Majesty, I’m afraid it’s all going terribly wrong”, to which she replied, “Oh good. What fun!”Her touching gesture at Churchill’s funeral
When Winston Churchill died in 1965, the Queen not only gave permission for him to receive a State Funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral, but broke protocol and arrived before the family, not last, as a sign of respect.The Queen photo-bombs Aussie athletes
Surprise! Pic: Jayde Taylor/Brooke Peris In 2014 at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Hockeyroos Jayde Taylor and Brooke Peris took a selfie, while the Queen did a regal photobomb in the background.
Sending a recipe to President Eisenhower
In 1959, following a visit to Balmoral by President Eisenhower and Mamie, the Queen charmingly sent him, as promised, her recipe for drop scones.Speaking of Philip for the first time after his death
The Queen’s Christmas speech. Pic: The Royal Family Instagram The Queen finally shared her feelings about Philip in her Christmas speech last year, saying, “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation – were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.”
Inviting Helen Mirren to tea
After Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of the monarch in 2006’s The Queen, instead of being offended, the Queen invited her to tea.Sitting front row at London Fashion Week
Two fashion queens. Pic: The Royal Family There are not many moments that surprise us, but the Queen sitting next to Anna Wintour aged 91, at London Fashion Week in 2018 was one of them.
Lessons we can learn from the Queen
This week, Kerry also wrote an opinion piece for The Sunday Telegraph on the lessons we can all learn from the Queen. Here’s an extract:
Find a signature style and stick with it: If ever there was an example of why we all need a signature look, it’s the Queen, who has made the block-colour coat and hat combo her own and can rock a headscarf and tweed like nobody else.
Never complain, never explain: Whatever the drama – and there has been plenty of it – the Queen has stuck to this mantra. Silence is way more powerful than shouting and much more infuriating to the other person. If only we could remember this.
Have other interests: When she was younger she was disparaged by critics for “only knowing about horses,” but it turned out she knew an awful lot about horses and became one of the most successful racehorse owners in the world. She only stopped riding aged 95. And no, Wordle doesn’t count as a hobby.
Work through grief: The Queen is not the retiring type – literally. She made a pledge on her 21st birthday that her “whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.” Obviously, nobody wants to work themselves into the grave, but keeping active as long as you can has to be good for your brain and body. She has also shown working through grief can help your mental health and as such, was back to business post-Prince Philip’s funeral in days.
Kate scores the top job
Proof she really is a good sport - Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge hit the pitch at Twickenham on Thursday, as it was announced she has taken over as royal patron of England Rugby. The position was formerly held by Prince Harry.
“I am so thrilled to become Patron of the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union,” she said. “I look forward to working with them across all levels of the games, and to cheering England on in what promises to be an exciting year for both sports!”
She even slipped on her trackies and boots and showed some skills. The question is, who will George, Charlotte and Louis support, as dad is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union. Awks.
Lovely Jubbly
Finally, the funniest story this week has to be the Platinum Jubilee commemorative china collection with a difference. In true Del Boy-style, the range of Jubilee souvenirs has been heavily discounted, thanks to a slight error. Instead of Jubilee, the plates and cups commemorate the “Platinum Jubbly”. Lovely.
On the plus-side, you can buy the job-lot for a 90% discount from Wholesale Clearance UK. If your name is Trotter, perhaps.