SLICE OF HISTORY
Queen on ‘sparkling’ form as she tackles cake to celebrate 70 years on the throne, saying ‘I’ll just put a knife in’
THE Queen showed she's still the royal icing on the cake today as she cracked jokes at a tea party celebrating her 70 years on the throne.
Her Majesty, 95, was on "sparkling" form as she met with members of the Women's Institute and local Norfolk charities on the eve of her Accession.
16
16
Tomorrow marks the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with celebrations to be held across the country.
The Monarch was just 25 when she began her reign after the death of her father, King George VI.
She is now the longest-reigning and longest-living monarch in our nation’s history.
The Queen wore a stunning powder blue Angela Kelly dress adorned with a white flower pattern as she beamed at the reception in the Sandringham Ballroom.
She appeared in good spirits and joked with guests while cutting into a cake specially prepared by a Sandringham local in celebration of the milestone.
When told the cake was turned upside down for the benefit of photographers, she joked: "I don't matter?"
The Queen also left her guests laughing as she told them "I'll put the knife in, see if it works" before adding: "Somebody else can finish it off".
Most read in The Sun
She seemed at ease as she clutched her trademark black handbag and used a wooden walking stick at during the event.
There were throwbacks to her Coronation in 1953 - with the Queen presented with a posy that included flowers from her bouquet as she took the throne.
🔵 Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest updates
Her Majesty is president of the Sandringham branch of the WI and her vice-president Yvonne Browne said of the monarch: "She seemed great, she was in sparkling form and we had a good chat about what we have and haven't done during Covid."
Guests also included Angela Wood, who helped create the original recipe for Coronation Chicken for the crowning back in 1953.
Harry Humphrey - mayor of Kings Lynn - then presented the Queen with a Loyal Address and Platinum Jubilee Mosaic created by Norfolk school kids.
Her Majesty was also treated to a round of 'Congratulations' played by the Hunstanton Concert Band.
The event was the largest in-person public engagement the Queen had attended since before her recent health scare.
She usually spends the anniversary of her accession to the throne in private but this year made history with the afternoon tea party.
The occasion will be more poignant for the Queen this year as it is her first without Prince Philip following his tragic death last April.
She travels to Sandringham each year to mark the event and is expected to stay until the end of the month.
During the event. the Queen stopped to chat a group of former Sandringham Estate workers and told them: "I haven't seen you for a very long time."
Reminiscing about the devastating floods in 1953 that affected Norfolk and the surrounding counties, she said: "I remember sitting at dinner, the fire alarm went off, no fire, the sea was coming in."
She added: "It's a very nasty experience, you go to the top of the (sea) wall and it's there," and she raised her hand to her face as if indicating the level of the sea.
The Queen is thought to have been staying in the Duke of Edinburgh's cottage, Wood Farm, while at Sandringham, and she said her late husband "loved it" and part of its attraction was because the "sea was so close".
Sandringham is where her father died, aged 56, in 1952 while she was on holiday with Philip in Kenya.
She was crowned at Westminster Abbey the following year.
Britain will mark the Queen's 70 years on the throne with a four-day bank holiday in June.
It came after the Palace released a touching video of the Monarch stroking her pet Dorgi as she reads cards and memorabilia.
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
Read More on The Sun
Topics