The Queen may have mastered the art of keeping a straight face in many situations but that's not to say she doesn't have a wicked sense of humour.
From telling her right-hand woman she was 'sacked' after she played a cruel prank on her, to sending a savage note to the palace chef when she discovered a dead slug in her dinner, she's always one to make light of a situation.
According to royal historian and close friend Hugo Vickers, she has a 'favourite question' to ask when she's taking part in royal duties.
In an interview with the Express, he revealed it's Her Majesty 's sneaky way of "catching people out."
He said: "She hears everything, sees everything. She is completely on the ball.
L ove the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up.
"And she quite enjoys catching people out. I think she and Prince Philip enjoyed that enormously.
"One of her favourite questions, which she asks with good theatrical timing, is ‘Are you sure?’ – well, you’d better be’."
The royal expert also commented on the Queen’s “extraordinary memory" and how she often recalls remarkable anecdotes when she talks to people.
He noted how she is able to seamlessly move from one conversation to the next, and said: “When she says these things, when she answers these questions, she’s very often moving on to the next person.
“And it’s kind of a side which comes, she just drops it to you and by that stage she’s moved on.
“She’s got a very good memory. You can’t catch her out. Her random access to facts and anecdotes and stories and things is quite extraordinary."
But he added that he hasn’t seen or talked to her for about three years: "I haven’t even seen her since that Commonwealth observance — that famous one with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The last time I saw her."
Vickers, who knows Her Majesty personally, helped plan the Queen’s last three jubilees and is helping to promote the Platinum Jubilee after she became the first monarch to mark a seven-decade reign.
To pay tribute to the occasion the government has approved an extended bank holiday weekend in June.
The celebrations will include a huge concert put on by the BBC live from Buckingham Palace and will feature performances by some of the biggest names in entertainment.
Have you got a story to share? We want to hear all about it. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
