A Royal Laugh: Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill's Historic Meeting
Picture this: Queen Elizabeth II, just 25 years old and newly crowned, sitting down for a private audience with the legendary Winston Churchill. The year was 1952, and the two were locked in deep conversation. “I couldn’t hear what they were talking about,” Sir “Tommy” Lascelles, the queen’s private secretary, recounted in Elizabeth The Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch. “But it was punctuated by peals of laughter.” Churchill, visibly amused, wiped tears from his eyes as he left the room. Meanwhile, the young queen retreated to a quiet corner to jot down her thoughts about the meeting in her personal diary—a diary that would become a treasure trove of royal musings over the years.
A Lifetime of Reflection: The Queen's Diary
Over her remarkable 68-year reign, Queen Elizabeth, who celebrated her 94th birthday during her tenure, has consistently documented her thoughts and feelings in her diary. From world leaders to Hollywood icons, she’s recorded her impressions of everyone she’s encountered. “Every night before going to sleep, she’d put pen to paper and write about her innermost feelings,” a royal insider shared with the latest issue of Closer magazine, which is currently available on newsstands. That includes her reflections on monumental events like Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s divorce, as well as joyful occasions like the marriages of her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Her diary, according to the insider, holds a place of reverence akin to the crown jewels themselves. “It’s deemed almost as valuable,” they said. The queen takes extraordinary measures to protect its contents, ensuring it’s kept in a locked black leather case that accompanies her everywhere. When at Buckingham Palace, she stores it in a vault accessible only to her. To further safeguard its secrets, she even has her staff destroy the blotting paper used to dry the ink, leaving no trace for prying eyes.
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Celebrity Encounters and Family Matters
Despite its allure, the diary remains a closely guarded secret. “Aside from Prince Philip, no one has read Queen Elizabeth’s diary,” the insider revealed, adding that even Philip has only seen snippets. However, the source speculated that the queen might have written about her starstruck reaction upon meeting Marilyn Monroe, describing the actress as “even prettier in the flesh” than in her films. In contrast, her meeting with Elizabeth Taylor in 1976 left her feeling “awkward and embarrassed.” The reason? The queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, had flirted with Taylor’s husband, Richard Burton, leading to a tense confrontation between Margaret and the Cleopatra star.
When it comes to family matters, the queen’s diary likely holds an abundance of reflections on her relationships. The insider suggests that she may have written about her initial belief that Princess Diana was the ideal match for Prince Charles, only to watch their union unravel. “She has likely documented her private meetings with Diana and how her attempts to guide her as the queen consort backfired when the princess began to rebel,” the source explained.
The Queen's Trust and Betrayal
Following Diana’s departure from the royal family, the queen grew cautious about outsiders marrying into it. “It took time for her to warm to Kate Middleton,” the insider noted. “And it’s very probable that she’s made notes about this.” Despite her initial hesitations, the queen found joy in Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle. However, their decision to step back from royal duties caused her immense pain. “She felt betrayed and incredibly concerned about her beloved grandson’s well-being after moving to Los Angeles,” the source revealed.
Despite the allure of its contents, the queen’s diary remains an impenetrable fortress. “People would pay millions to get their hands on it, but it’ll never happen,” the insider insisted to Closer. With her unwavering commitment to discretion, the diary will remain her personal sanctuary. “Queen Elizabeth found comfort in expressing herself in her diary,” the insider concluded. “And she still does.”
For more fascinating insights like this, grab the latest issue of Closer magazine, available now on newsstands.
