The Queen finds my royal tattoos hilarious, says superfan
The Queen, 78, laughed as Phil Smith, from Northampton, told her that his latest royal inking – of Their Majesties' joint cypher – had 'bloody hurt'.
The 61-year-old's latest tattoo, at the top of his left thigh, joins three other cyphers – the symbol of the late Queen Elizabeth II's reign, as well as the King and Camilla's individual symbols, on the same leg.
The Queen also took the opportunity to reveal that one of her police protection officers also has a tattoo of the couple's joint royal cypher.
The interaction took place during Their Majesties' annual visit to the Sandringham Flower Show, which marked their final large-scale joint public engagement before the summer holidays.
Mr Smith waited at the front of the crowd to meet the Queen, whom he has been writing to since before her marriage to Charles in 2005.
Speaking after their meeting, he said: 'I just think she's fabulous and have got to know her a bit. We just hit it off.
'I love the royal family and she in particular has got a good sense of humour. She frequently responds.'
He added: 'I waited to see her to show her my latest [tattoo] and she laughed…She asked how long it [the latest one] took and I told her about two and a half hours. But I told her this one bloody hurt. She just finds it hilarious.
'She pulled her police officer's sleeve and said 'look, it's catching on!''
The Royal couple's annual visit to the flower show, held in the grounds of the Norfolk royal residence, saw them touring stands and meeting hundreds of well-wishers.
They arrived in a special door-less carriage, once used by Queen Victoria, and were presented with flowers while a choir and band from Springwood High School sang the National Anthem.
The King looked delighted to be back after he was forced to skip the event – which attracts around 20,000 visitors annually – last year because of his ongoing cancer treatment.
Their first stop was at Peter Beales Roses, where Camilla sympathised with fellow avid gardeners about recent heatwave spells wreaking havoc on plants.
'Oh the weather, everything is wilting!' she exclaimed.
Asked later on whether she liked growing her own vegetables at her beloved Wiltshire home Raymill, she said enthusiastically: 'Yes, I do enjoy it. I'm very proud of my veg.
'It's the best therapy in the world. We haven't had any rain, though, [even though] it's been raining here. I've never done so much watering in my life.'
She also gave an update on her latest Battersea rescue puppy, Moley, who did not accompany her last week for a visit to the dogs and cats rescue charity in London.
'I'm sorry we couldn't bring Moley to the engagement last week,' Camilla said, adding: 'She's very naughty, I think I only have one shoe left.'
The couple also popped into stalls run by the Cat's Protection League, St John's Ambulance and Medical Detection Dogs, of which the Queen is patron.
The King was then given a guard of honour by the local Air Cadets before the couple headed back to Sandringham House in their carriage, smiling and waving to onlookers.
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