Joanna Lumley recalls tearful moment she received mystery letter from Buckingham Palace
Joanna Lumley, a devoted royalist and tireless charity supporter, was over the moon when she was appointed an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List. However, when an "official-looking" letter arrived at Joanna 's doorstep seven years later, she was somewhat apprehensive.
The Absolutely Fabulous actress confessed to Saga Magazine: "My heart sank because I thought it would say I'd been parking on the wrong side of the street. Then I opened it and was completely overwhelmed. I blubbed."
She revealed that the letter, from Buckingham Palace, informed her she was to be made a Dame.
Joanna added: "I was terribly moved. I don't think you should be rewarded for charity stuff - you do it because you love to help - but it was a big deal."
Joanna remembers that the 2022 awards were the final New Year's Honours bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen passed away nine months later in September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee marking her record-breaking 70-year reign.
Joanna remarked: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died."
Joanna has penned a book titled 'A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Our One and Only Queen Elizabeth II on Her Platinum Jubilee', which compiles anecdotes from individuals who had the privilege of meeting the late monarch during her long reign.
In conversation with Jonathan Ross, she revealed that these stories were gathered "from all kinds of people from very grand statesmen people like Ban Ki-moon and Khrushchev and Winston Churchill, right down to little kids who saw her passing by in the street and were allowed to go and give their flowers."
She highlighted one particular tale from Rob Halford, the lead vocalist of rock band Judas Priest: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed i'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'"
Speaking to Saga, Joanna also expressed her immense admiration for the King: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see," she stated.
Noting that the King held the title of Prince Of Wales for over 64 years, she emphasised that his cancer diagnosis hasn't hindered him from fulfilling his Royal duties: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him.
"He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible."
Joanna noted that during his time as Prince Of Wales, he experienced "a dark, dark time" when the media sided with Princess Diana against him: "So much mud was flung at the new Queen when she was Camilla Parker Bowles, but now she just goes about her job without any rancour. She's a golden, fabulous person."
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I took £550 luxury train to Edinburgh for Royal Family site – but I was left torn'
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Absolutely.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Queen Elizabeth's clever reason for dressing in bright colours and matching coat and hat
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He says: 'For the World Cup in 1966 she wore a bright primrose yellow outfit which stood out in the royal box at Wembley. It meant that anyone attending the match would see a tiny figure in yellow and even from half a mile away know it was the Queen. 'It was part of her sense of duty. She knew people often caught just a fleeting glimpse of her from a long way away, so by wearing bright, vivid colours they would know it was her. She used the whole palette of colours, with a matching hat. 'She always stayed true to herself, always dressed as the Queen. One of her designers told me she was always dressed for a wedding, the kind of thing your mum or aunty would get once for an important occasion she would wear every day. 'She'd be on a royal engagement in Sheffield or Birmingham and have the handbag, the pearls, the court shoes, hat and gloves. She was always dressed immaculately and presented herself in that very formal, elegant way. 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Her brooches often wielded intent. When she met Donald Trump, during his 2019 state visit, she wore three different brooches on each day. The first had been given to her by Trump's political nemesis Barack Obama, the second by her the Governor-General of Canada, and the third was one the Queen Mother had worn to King George VI's funeral, a brooch inextricably tied to mourning . The 'Life in Style' exhibition, which will run from spring to autumn 2026 with tickets on sale from November, will also feature the Queen's jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, as well as never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence that reveal the behind-the-scenes process of dressing the most famous woman in the world. Curator Caroline de Guitaut said: 'Over the course of Queen Elizabeth II's remarkably long reign, her distinctive style became instantly recognisable around the world, bolstering the British fashion industry and influencing generations of designers and couturiers. Only now, as the late Queen's fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices – from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
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'I annoyed Queen Elizabeth II's family and caused uproar at Buckingham Palace'
When Queen Elizabeth II was about to turn 70, Prince Edward and other family members planned a lavish birthday surprise - but Buckingham Palace was upset as plans were leaked A journalist has today told how he annoyed Prince Philip when he unwittingly "ruined" Queen Elizabeth II's birthday surprise. Richard Kay was unaware the monarch did not yet know about designs for her 70th birthday, and so his story was published in his newspaper. It caused "uproar at Buckingham Palace" as royals, including Prince Edward and Prince Philip, had prepared a boat trip along the River Thames to the famous Waterside Inn at Bray, Berkshire, for the Queen to enjoy a meal. "I was accused of spoiling a surprise party, and told that the Queen, because of the very nature of her role, got very few unexpected treats and I had ruined one... There was uproar at Buckingham Palace," Mr Kay wrote. When the journalist later reported on one of Her Majesty's overseas tours, during which she hosted a garden party, Prince Philip spotted him talking to a group of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Philip, it is understood, then told them off for talking to "that bloody man". 'Prince Harry must be welcomed back to royal fold after Meghan rubbed salt in wounds' Mr Kay, who recalls the "boat episode" in today's edition of the Daily Mail, was quietly asked to avoid the Queen at the garden party as she was still upset about the story. She rarely had surprises for her birthday due to the nature of her role and so, in 1996, her family had hoped to pull out all the stops for her big day. But when royal reporter Mr Kay became aware of the plans, he prepared a story for the Daily Mail as protocol for his role. He was not conscious Her Majesty did not yet know anything of the treats. Both Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson were accused of leaking the story to Mr Kay - but he insists they were blameless. Queen Elizabeth II would usually head to the luxurious Ritz Hotel in the heart of London for supper on her birthday. Surprises like the one Philip and Edward had planned were rare due to the nature of the monarch's work. The monarch had two birthdays - an official one in June as well as her own in April - as was the famous historic tradition. Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, to The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and The Queen Mother) and while she never expected to come to the throne, she has carried on one of the monarch's most famous annual celebrations. The tradition dates all the way back to King George II in 1748, who combined the annual Trooping the Colour with his birthday celebrations, even though he was born in November.
