Late Queen's inappropriate question to Boris Johnson after weird dream
The late Queen's sense of humour was not always on display, but those closest to her have often spoken of her quick wit and brilliant one-liners behind closed doors.
One person who did spend time with the late monarch was ex Prime Minster Boris Johnson - and he also got to experience her playful side during a one-on-one meeting at the time of his tenure.
According to Robert Hardman, author of Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, Johnson once confided to the Queen that he had been troubled by a dream in which he was late for an audience with her.
Quick as a flash, she replied, "Were you naked?!" and according to Hardman, "She had heard it all before." The new book reads: "'The Queen had seen enough 'yes men' come and go and he wasn't one of those,' says one who saw them both close at hand."
This fresh revelation is just one of a number of examples demonstrating the Queen's fabulous sense of humour. A group of American tourists famously once approached the Queen as she was out walking near her Balmoral estate. Not recognising the unassuming woman in a headscarf, they asked if she lived nearby.
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"She answered quite non-committally that yes, she had a house quite close by," says writer Karen Dolby, recounting a talk given by Richard Griffin, the Queen's former protection officer. "They asked if she'd ever met the Queen, and without missing a beat she replied 'no' but pointed at Richard Griffin, and said, 'but he has'. And then they walked on, none the wiser. I think her sense of irony and lightness of touch reflected her humour very obviously."
Sir Elton John also shared a funny exchange he witnessed between the Queen and Viscount Linley, in his memoir.
The musician said that during an event, she asked her nephew to go and check on his mother – her sister, Princess Margaret. "When he repeatedly tried to fob her off," wrote Elton, "the Queen lightly slapped him across the face, saying, 'Don't' – SLAP – 'argue' – SLAP – 'with' – SLAP – 'me' – SLAP – 'I' – SLAP –'‘am' – SLAP – 'THE QUEEN!' As he left, she saw me staring at her, gave me a wink and walked off."
Karen Dolby, who compiled the book The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II, says humour has always been important to the whole family, from the joke presents exchanged each Christmas to their informal barbecues.
"They have nicknames for one another, and quite a lot of teasing goes on," says Dolby. "They don't let anyone take themselves too seriously, or have an overinflated sense of their own importance. I think teasing, jokes and nicknames are all part of the whole family ethos."
Humour also defined the Queen's relationship with her husband. "I don't think anyone without a sense of humour would have been so happy, or forge such a successful partnership, with a man like Prince Philip," she added. According to her, what people forgot is "when they talked about Prince Philip, his gaffes and his dreadful politically incorrect sense of humour, that the main person that was designed for was the Queen".
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