Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Bodyguard's Story About The Queen's Interaction With American Tourists Who Didn't Recognize Her Is Everything

Bodyguard's Story About The Queen's Interaction With American Tourists Who Didn't Recognize Her Is Everything
Sky News; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The news of Queen Elizabeth II's death on Thursday shook the entire world.

While global reactions are tempered by the aftermath of colonialism and lasting effects of imperialism, as well as opinions on the monarchy across the remains of the Commonwealth including Britain, many critics still mourn the woman behind the crown.


In the wake of the news, many shared their stories of Britain's longest reigning monarch giving an insight into her character.

One story in particular sheds light on the Queen's humor and lightheartedness.

In a video shared by David Mack (@davidmackau) on Twitter, Queen Elizabeth II's former bodyguard Richard Griffin recounts a story about two American tourists who didn't recognize the Queen.

You can watch the video below:

Griffin tells the story of a time when he and the Queen were on a picnic in Scotland and encountered two American tourists. He stated they rarely met others at the site, but when they did the Queen would always stop to say hello.

Griffin recalls:

"...it was two Americans on a walking holiday, and it was clear from the moment we first stopped that they hadn't recognized the Queen, which is fine."
"And the American gentleman was telling the Queen where he came from, where they were going to next, and where they'd been to in Britain."

Griffin then begins to chuckle in the video:

"And I could see it coming, and sure enough, he said to the majesty, 'And where do you live?'"

According to Griffin, the Queen then responded:

"Well I live in London, but I've got a holiday home just the other side of the hills."

The tourists continued:

"Well how often have you been coming up here?"

Griffin recounted that the Queen then said:

"Oh, I've been coming up here ever since I was a little girl, so over 80 years."

To which one of the tourists replied:

"Well, if you've been coming up here for 80 years, then you must've met the Queen."

"Quick as a flash" as Griffin recalled, the Queen responded referring to Griffin by his nickname:

"Well I haven't, but Dickie here meets her regularly."

Then the tourists became even more curious, shifting their attention back to Griffin.

They were intrigued and asked Griffin what the Queen was like.

Griffin said because he was with the Queen for a long time and knew he could pull her leg, he answered:

"Oh, she can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humor."

Griffin said the next thing he knew, one of the men comes to him, puts his arm around his shoulder, gives his camera to the Queen, and asked if she would take a picture of the three.

Griffin eventually swapped places with the Queen and took some pictures of the tourists with her without ever letting on.

He said that they all waved goodbye at which point the Queen turned to Griffin and said:

"I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs to friends in America, and hopefully someone tells them who I am."

The video garnered reactions from Twitter.








Although the news of Queen Elizabeth II's passing is somber and sorrowful for many, it's uplifting to learn of her humor and wit through stories such as these.

More from Trending

Jennifer Garner
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images; @jennifer.garner/Instagram

Jennifer Garner Just Pitched A New Sport For The Winter Olympics—And Fans Are Into It

The Summer and Winter Olympics are already pretty great, but Jennifer Garner believes the Winter Olympics could use one more sport to make it perfect.

While passing through Central Park, Jennifer Garner came across a group of women who were sledding down a shallow hill on none other than small, silver baking sheets.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elis Lundholm
IOC via Getty Images

NBC Apologizes After Commentators Repeatedly Misgendered Trans Winter Olympic Skier

The International Olympic Committee is still trying to figure out what their position on transgender inclusion looks like and how decisions are made regarding which events athletes compete in. In the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Filipino boxer Hergie Bacyadan, a transgender man, had to compete in the women’s event because of their stage in their transition.

In the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this year, per International Ski Federation regulations, Swedish moguls skier Elis Lundholm also has to compete in the women’s moguls event because he hasn't begun a masculinizing hormone replacement therapy regimen yet.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Jessica Tarlov and Jesse Watters
Fox News

Fox News Host Gives Jesse Watters Blunt Reality Check After Stranger Called Him A 'Fascist'

Fox News personality Jesse Watters got a brutal reality check from his colleague Jessica Tarlov when he shared a story live on The Five about his bewilderment after a stranger shouted "F.U. fascist!" at him while he was walking his dog in his neighborhood.

Watters previously lived in a Manhattan rental and currently lives in a $2.8 million mansion in Bernardsville, New Jersey—where at least one neighbor is not a fan of his.

Keep ReadingShow less
Patrick Morrisey
@ameliaknisely/X

GOP West Virginia Governor's Press Conference Goes Viral For Hilariously Awkward Typo On Sign

MAGA Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey decided to hold a press conference at the Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, West Virginia, to ask voters to support state income tax cuts.

But his message was derailed by a detail no one on the governor's team, including the man himself, noticed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mark Alford; Bad Bunny
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

MAGA Rep. Blasted After Saying Republicans Are Now 'Investigating' Bad Bunny's Halftime Show

In an interview with Real America's Voice, Missouri Republican Representative Mark Alford said House Republicans are now "investigating" rapper Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show, claiming it "could be much worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction" for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, which was broadcast live on February 1, 2004, featured singers Justin Timberlake and Jackson. The show is infamous for the moment Timberlake exposed Jackson's breast for a moment.

Keep ReadingShow less