Queen Elizabeth II’s dry sense of humor was an important part of her character.
According to many who studied the longest-reigning monarch, she never took herself “too seriously.”
Earlier this year, Royal historian Robert Lacey told the BBC that “laughing at things” was an “important survival technique” for Queen Elizabeth II.
“She obviously takes her job seriously – but at the same time it doesn’t stop her from seeing the ridiculous,” he added.
Historian and author Sir Anthony Seldon also noted that “a defining characteristic” of the royal family was that they “didn’t take themselves too seriously”.
He added that her puckiness “contributed significantly to the success of her administration.”
Her funny sense of humor was fully manifested when a group of American tourists failed to recognize her as she strolled her estate near Balmoral Castle in August 2021.
Richard Griffin — the Queen’s police officer — told The Times, according to The Sun, that the tourists asked her if she lived nearby. Amused, she replied that she had a house nearby.
When they further asked if she had ever met the Queen, she boldly replied, “No, but this policeman did,” gesturing at him.
The former officer – who worked for the royal family for more than 30 years – added that the group left, not realizing that they had just talked to one of the most famous women in the world.
Meanwhile, in 2012, the Queen delighted a worldwide audience when she had an unforgettable cameo at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
She was filmed leaving Buckingham Palace with James Bond actor Daniel Craig before hopping in a helicopter for a ride to the ceremony. Two corgi dogs even appeared as pets.
The video ended with a doppelganger dressed as Her Highness jumping out of the helicopter and descending with a Union Jack parachute.
Most recently, the monarch managed to steal the show at the “Platinum Party at the Palace,” a tribute concert, last June.
In a surprising pre-recorded video, she was shown having high tea with another beloved British celebrity – Paddington Bear.
The accident-prone Peruvian bear caused his usual chaos as the queen watched serenely. Spectators, including her great-grandson, Prince George, roared as the Queen, after years of mystery, finally revealed the purpose of her ever-present leather handbag: here she hid her secret stash of marmalade sandwiches.
“The chance to invite a famous bear for tea was just too nice to miss,” a palace spokesman told the Sunday Times in London.
The Queen may have summed it up in her 1991 Christmas message.
“Let’s not take ourselves too seriously,” she said.
“None of us has the monopoly on wisdom.”