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

Savannah Guthrie
NBC News

Savannah Guthrie's Brother Leaves Fans Stunned With His Reaction To Her Fear That She Caused Their Mom's Disappearance

On the Thursday, March 26, broadcast of the Today show, Hoda Kotb interviewed host Savannah Guthrie about her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1, 2026.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of January 31. Surveillance footage then showed a masked individual disconnecting her home security camera around 1:47 am.

Keep ReadingShow less
Men from TMZ video; Ted Cruz in airport
TMZ; MEGA/GC/Getty Images

TMZ Is Actually Being Praised After Asking People To Send Them Photos Of Lawmakers On Vacation

TMZ has for years generated controversy and attracted derision for its story gathering tactics, but it's actually earning a little bit of goodwill after asking people to submit photos of members of Congress on vacation during Easter break as the partial government shutdown reaches historic lengths.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced that he would deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports amid a partial government shutdown that has caused exceptionally long delays at TSA lines nationwide.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Charles Barkley; Donald Trump
CBS; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Charles Barkley Sounds Off On Trump's Immigration Crackdown 'Disgrace' During March Madness Rant

Former NBA star turned sports analyst Charles Barkley condemned President Donald Trump's "disgrace" of an immigration crackdown in remarks on CBS on Sunday, lamenting the fates "amazing immigrants" who have been terrorized by the federal government.

Barkley pivoted to discussing immigration after CBS ran a feature on University of Connecticut star Alex Karaban, whose parents are immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Donald Trump
Steve Jennings/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Rips Trump After Report Reveals Massive Amount Taxpayers Have Spent For Trump To Go Golfing

President Donald Trump's trips to his golf courses have cost taxpayers a fortune in his second term, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to criticize him for the massive tab in a post on X.

Trump’s golf outings have cost taxpayers at least $101.2 million in travel and security expenses since he returned to office. That total is about two-thirds of what his golf trips cost during his entire first term and puts him on pace to spend roughly $300 million by the end of his second term.

Keep ReadingShow less
Joe Rogan; JD Vance
The Joe Rogan Experience; Heather Diehl/Getty Images

JD Vance Weakly Claps Back After Joe Rogan Says MAGA Is Filled With A 'Bunch Of F—king Dorks'

Former actor, comedian, and Fear Factor host turned podcaster Joe Rogan has spent years profiting off the conspiracy theorists, Christian nationalists, and White supremacists that make up the MAGA movement.

But lately, Rogan has gone from enabling Republican President Donald Trump and his cronies to criticizing them.

Keep ReadingShow less