The late Queen was famous around the world for many reasons – whether that was down to the fact that she had an incredibly vibrant wardrobe, her lifelong love of Corgis or because she was the longest reigning monarch in British history.
While the monarch dedicated her entire life to royal service and always carried out her duties effortlessly, there was one part of her job that she reportedly wished she could change.
Speaking before the Queen's death, royal expert Adam Heliker revealed what a former equerry told him that Her Royal Highness didn't enjoy about her position.
He said: "The equerry revealed: 'One summer day she asked me to join her on a walk at Balmoral. She talked about how irritating it was to go into a party and as she put it, watch people peel away, like the water parting as the bow of a ship ploughed through it."
He continued: "'She said she always felt it would be lovely to just slip into a party, wandering around incognito, talking to anyone she felt like. But the thing that most irritated her was the 'inevitable hush' that always greeted her when they saw her walking in'."
While the Queen wished she could go unnoticed from time to time, she famously managed it on VE Night in 1945. The details of the incredible incognito adventure were revealed by the monarch herself in a rare interview for the BBC in 1985 to mark the 40th anniversary of VE Day.
In the interview, the Queen remembered that famous evening and said: "I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life.
"We were terrified of being recognised, so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes. A Grenadier officer among our party of about 16 people said he refused to be seen in the company of another officer improperly dressed, so I had to put my cap on normally."
She continued: "I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief. I also remember when someone exchanged hats with a Dutch sailor; the poor man coming along with us in order to get his hat back."
The Queen's first cousin Margaret Rhodes was also part of the royal group and remembered that: "Trafalgar Square was jammed. It was a scene of joyful whoopee – full of people kissing policemen and other people. It was complete."
Margaret went on to reveal that at 11.30pm the entourage "decided to go in the front door of the Ritz and do the conga. The Ritz was so stuffy and formal – we rather electrified the stuffy individuals inside. I don't think people realised who was among the party – I think they thought it was just a group of drunk young people. I remember old ladies looking faintly shocked. As one congaed through, eyebrows were raised."
The Queen went on to confirm that the group were outside the palace when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth appeared, she recalled: "We were successful in seeing my parents on the balcony, having cheated slightly by sending a message into the house, to say we were waiting outside."
At 9pm, King George made a broadcast to the nation where he praised the country and everyone who served. He said: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will."
During the afternoon and evening, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made an unprecedented eight appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony and were joined by the two princesses numerous times, as well as Sir Winston Churchill.
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