Tourists' embarrassing run in with the Queen

The Queen has shared a small joke with a group of unsuspecting American tourists, who had no idea who it was they were speaking too.

Queen Elizabeth II is currently enjoying her annual trip to Balmoral, Scotland, when she happened upon the group of tourists while enjoying a walk on the grounds of Balmoral Castle with her protection officer Richard Griffin.

Richard revealed to The Times, that the group failed to recognise the Queen, who was dressed down wearing tweeds and a headscarf.

The group apparently struck up a conversation asking whether she lived in the area.

Her response was that she indeed had a house nearby, which prompted the group to ask whether she had ever met the Queen.

That’s when Her Majesty joked: “No, but this policeman has”, pointing to Richard.

The group went on their way none the wiser, according to Richard, who has worked closely with the royal family for more than 30 years.

Queen’s annual working holiday at Balmoral

The Queen might be on her annual summer holiday at her Scottish estate Balmoral, but it’s still business as usual for the 93-year-old monarch.

“For her [The Queen], although it’s her great three-month-long holiday, work goes on as usual,” The Sunday Times’ royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah told Yahoo UK’s The Royal Box.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie added that while it’s all about family for the Queen, the work does go on.

Newly elected UK prime minister Boris Johnson, 55, and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds, 31, have been invited to Balmoral and are expected to visit in early September.

Her Majesty’s Buckingham Palace staff also accompany her to the 50,000 acre estate to assist her with her work.

“Her private secretaries are always up there, so the three private secretaries will rotate. There will always be a court up at Balmoral with private secretaries, press secretaries, equerries, so everything moves up,” Roya said.

But it’s not all work and no play for the monarch, who is joined by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, and other members of the royal family including their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Balmoral a family affair

Last week Prince William and Kate Middleton were pictured attending a church service with the Queen, after the royal couple arrived in Scotland with their children.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiled and waved as they were driven in the same car as the monarch to Crathie Kirk Church.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew from Norwich to Aberdeen with their young children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for a Bank Holiday stay at the Queen’s Scottish residence.

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