The Queen and the American tourists

I found the following very funny:-

"A hapless group of tourists once bumped into the Queen walking around her Balmoral estate - but didn't recognise her.

The monarch was out for a low-key walk in tweeds and a headscarf, something she likes to do when she gets the chance.

One of her former protection officers has revealed the 93-year-old likes to slip under the radar when possible.

Richard Griffin claims that once a group of American tourists failed to recognise her.

Speaking to The Times, Richard said the Queen didn't want to blow her cover at the time.

She went along with the tourists as they questioned whether she lived in the area, replying that she had a house nearby.

When they asked her if she'd ever met the Queen, all she said was "No, but this policeman has," gesturing towards Mr Griffin.

Richard - who worked closely with the monarch for more than 30 years - said the group then moved on, having no idea who they'd just met.

During her trips to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the Queen famously enjoys a low-profile lifestyle.

She chooses to wear pared-back clothes and wellies, as opposed to the brightly-coloured outfits she's known for.

According to biographer Robert Hardman, Her Majesty purposefully dresses in eye-catching shades during royal engagements.

In his 2011 biography Our Queen, the author described her as "engagingly modest".

He wrote: "My favourite remark she ever said was: 'I can't ever wear beige because nobody will know who I am.'"

I found the above quote funny,   I bet the tourists found out by now what mistake they made - and is not telling their children and grandchildren about how they talked to the Queen.  LOL

And tourism is not important?

Diana was a mess long before she met the hapless Charles.

Diana was a  media myth much like Mandela. Apart from the Queen the royal family don't amount to much to look up to but of course do generate tourism.

Your astounding foolishness persists. Why do you think I said hapless Charles or indeed said apart from the Queen there was nobody to look up to. 

You are becoming more and more unhinged. Are you on drugs perhaps. You certainly are acting more and more weird as the days go by. 

As for that mixed up Diana there were reports she was bulimic before marrying Charles. 

I thought the report quoted was quite funny - having seen myself how American tourists rave  about the Queen - not to start with a discussion of the royal system  found in some countries,.   I myself think there are some advantages stemming from Royal heads of state and not heads of government.

However, I may also tell a story not involving royals in the same line.   General Smuts' wife was a funny old lady.  She was always plainly dressed and even General Smuts says of her - "Leave Isie alone - she is a child of nature" when it came to her informal dressing style.

So one day she was sitting knitting on the stoep of Groot Schuur - the then home of the Prime Minister in Cape Town.  A group of American tourists came up to the house and asked to see the house, but was told that the Prime Minister is in residence and tourists are not allowed.

Ouma Isie heard what was said and told the tourists they must wait and she would talk to the residential manager about it.   They were allowed in and after the walk through tour the one American took out some money to pay her for allowing them entry,   He was hesitating and then put the money back in his pocket.   Asked afterwards what she would do if  he did give her a tip she said "I would have taken it quickly before he changed his mind."