The Queen, 93, has enjoyed numerous warm, friendly receptions during her time as the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Yet one particular official excursion overseas may have been more memorable than most. Elizabeth II travelled to what was then West Germany, in May 1965, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. It was a trip which would see her break German tradition, as well as receive a hugely flattering compliment.
Sarah Bradford detailed how the events played out in Europe in her book, queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Our Times.
She wrote: “The Queen and the Duke spent 10 days in Germany, travelling around by private train.
“At the castle of Bruhl, near the Federal capital of Bonn, the Queen triumphed looking, as one observer remarked, ‘devastatingly beautiful’ as she descended on the staircase to a fanfare of trumpets, the embroidery on her dress echoing the plasterwork rococo swirls on the ceiling.”
After the compliment, Prince Charles’ mother was invited to attend an official reception at the town hall in Hamburg.
It was during this event she played a key part in swerving German tradition.
Elizabeth added: “There was a tradition that the Mayor of Hamburg would stand at the top to greet the visitor and would never descend to welcome even the Emperor in the days of the Empire; the Mayor decided to waive tradition in honour of the Queen.
“‘I cannot go down to greet even the Queen of England, he said, ‘but I will go down to greet a lady.’”
Therefore he bowed to the Queen in what would sometimes be an accepted custom.
Meanwhile, Express.co.uk recently reported how the Queen is fluent in one particular language, which she often uses on tour.
One particular nation has a significance close to her “heart”, according to royal biographer Robert Hardman.
He told how Prince Harry’s grandmother’s fluency in French brought her closer to the European country.
In his book, Queen of the World, Robert told of her language skills and wrote: “The Princess’ other strong subject was French.
“Not only was it still the lingua franca of the royal houses and embassies of Europe, but it was essential for any future sovereign of Canada, with its substantial French-speaking population.
Marc Roche, royal biographer, added of the Queen Mother: “She just clicked with the French – and it’s the same with the Queen.
“She just clicked, too.”
Robert continued: “He points to the fact that France is just one of a tiny handful of places where the Queen has gone ‘on holiday’, albeit to inspect horses in Normandy.
“‘It’s the country she has been to more through her heart than reason,’ he says.”
