On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96, after a remarkable 70-year reign over the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
Throughout her reign, she encountered numerous celebrities from diverse backgrounds, including Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe in 1956.
Despite their seemingly contrasting lives, the Queen and Marilyn shared some striking similarities.
Both were born within weeks of each other in 1956 – the Queen on April 21 and Marilyn on June 1. They were both 30 when they first met.
Each woman was a powerhouse in her respective sphere. The Queen, naturally, was the sovereign of a nation and kingdom, while Marilyn had carved out her niche in Hollywood with standout performances in films like The Seven Year Itch, River of No Return, and Clash By Night.
Years afterward, the Queen’s candid observations about Marilyn came to light.
Michelle Morgan’s 2022 publication “When Marilyn Met the Queen: Marilyn Monroe’s Life in England” revealed the context behind Her Majesty’s remarks.
The writer noted: “In 1961, an article appeared in People that gave a glimpse of the Queen’s thoughts on Marilyn, through the eyes of an unnamed ‘friend.'”.
The confidant alleged that the Queen remarked, “I thought Miss Monroe was a very sweet person. But I felt sorry for her because she was so nervous that she had licked all her lipstick off.”
In the book, Michelle observes that video evidence from the occasion appears to support the Queen’s supposed remarks: “Marilyn can be seen licking her lips as she waited for the royal guests to reach her.”
The report also suggested that The Queen grew “fascinated” with Marilyn following their encounter. Shortly thereafter, she had viewed all of her movies.
Marilyn likewise had some favorable things to say about The Queen after their meeting.
Marilyn was subsequently questioned about what transpired between her and Queen Elizabeth II. She recounted her interaction with the Queen, saying, “The Queen is very warm-hearted. She radiates sweetness. She asked how I liked living in Windsor, and I said, ‘What?! ‘ And she said that, as I lived in Englefield Green, near Windsor, we were neighbours. So, I told her that Arthur and I went on bicycle rides in the park.”
Additionally, it was disclosed that she had a conversation with Princess Margaret. Describing her visit to England, she mentioned it was going “very well,” and then added, “and it will be with regret that we have to leave in about a fortnight’s time.”