Queen Elizabeth was seen in a very “informal” position during a cruise on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The unusual pose came during an evening on board the vessel and entertainment was held. Robert Hardman narrated the unlikely episode in his book Queen of the World. “The diplomat Roger du Boulay and his wife joined the Yacht for a week in 1974 during his years as Resident Commissioner of the New Hebrides in the Pacific,” wrote Hardman.
“The du Boulays were astounded one night when dinner was followed by the ship’s entertainment – ‘an elaborate pantomime’ – in front of the Royal Family and the crew with the Queen acting as wardrobe assistant.
“‘It involved the equerry taking the part of a Polynesian beauty,’ says du Boulay.
“‘I remember him sitting on the floor and I remember the Queen kneeling on the floor.
“‘He was stripped to the waist and she was fitting a brasserie on to him. It was an extraordinary sight!’
Hardman described another episode which saw the Royal Family enjoying an informal moment on the yacht – but one couldn’t always push it with the Queen – sometimes literally.
“On board, informality would go a long way – but it had its limits,” said Hardman.
“John Gorton, former Prime Minister of Australia, later recalled one beach barbecue with the family during a 1970 tour of Australia, when the royal party decided it was time for a swim.
“‘Princess Anne was thrown in and then Prince Philip,’ he said.
“‘I was sitting next to Her Majesty and I was just about to throw her in but I looked at her and something about the way she told me that perhaps I shouldn’t.
“‘In the end, the Queen was the only one who stayed dry.’”
On other informal family holidays, Prince Philip showed himself to have an unlikely talent.
“The Royal Family adored cruising the west coast of Britain. The main thing was being able to anywhere on a whim and go ashore with a minimum fuss,” said Hardman.
He continued: “Prince Philip, meanwhile, would relish the prospect of setting up on his barbecue in the unlikeliest spots – and cooking anything that took his fancy.
“‘He’d lead ashore with all the barbecue kit and the Queen would come later with the salad supplies and all the side dishes,’ says Sir Robert Woodard [a former Commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia].”
Prince Philip didn’t just stick to beef burgers and pork sausages when cooking, however.
Woodard recalled: “He’s a brilliant and very innovative cook. If you produced any strange animals out of the sea he’s prepare and cook it. You shouldn’t be surprised if you ate an octopus.”
