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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
Paige Holland & Maisie Lillywhite

Royal Family: Queen likes to 'catch people out' with tricky question during engagements

Royal protocol may mean that the Queen has mastered the art of keeping a poker face, but Her Majesty still has a great sense of humour. Despite being the most senior royal, the Queen is not afraid to have a little bit of fun every now and again.

Her Majesty has played some savagely silly pranks on her staff over the years. From informing her right-hand woman that she was 'sacked' after playing a cruel trick on her, to sending a brutal note to the palace chef after finding a dead slug in her dinner, the Queen is happy to make light of situations, The Mirror reports.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers is a close friend of Her Majesty. According to him, she has a favourite question to ask when she is attending engagements and performing royal duties.

Read more: Prince William had 'cyber relationship' with pop icon before he was with Kate, but stood singer up

Speaking to The Express, Hugo revealed that it is Her Majesty's way of 'catching people out'. He said: "She hears everything, sees everything; she is completely on the ball.

"And she quite enjoys catching people out. I think she and Prince Philip enjoyed that enormously.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visiting Derby Cathedral for the 800th Royal Maundy ceremony (Laura Page / Derby Telegraph)

"One of her favourite questions, which she asks with good theatrical timing, is: ‘Are you sure?’ – well, you’d better be’."

Also read: Queen's Platinum Jubilee: All the events and street parties announced in South Gloucestershire

Another thing the royal expert commented on was Her Majesty's 'extraordinary memory'. According to Hugo, the Queen often recalls incredible anecdotes when speaking to people.

Hugo noted how seamlessly she can weave between conversations. He 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."

However, Hugo has not seen or spoken to Her Majesty for around three years. He said: "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."

Hugo shares a personal relationship with the Queen, having assisted in the planning of her last three jubilees. He is also helping to promote the Platinum Jubilee, after Her Majesty became the first monarch to spend a staggering seven decades on the throne.

To pay tribute to the momentous occasion, the British public will enjoy an extended bank holiday weekend in June. Included in the celebrations will be a huge concert, which is being put on by the BBC, with some of the biggest names in entertainment performing live from Buckingham Palace.

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