Queen Elizabeth II was extremely down-to-earth in her private life.
According to the late monarch’s former butler Grant Harrold, she was fond of spending time outside with her loved ones at their estate in Scotland when she had time off from her royal responsibilities.
Elizabeth loved ‘picnics’
Despite the pomp and circumstance of The Firm, Elizabeth adored having a meal outside on the ground.
Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III sit on the lawn at Balmoral in 1960. By: MEGA
“Picnics were a massive thing for the late Queen,” the ex-staffer told Marie Claire on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino.
“She loved her picnics and you can imagine the picnics come in different variations,” Harrold said.
Elizabeth enjoyed casual and posh dining
The Buckingham Palace employee claimed Her Majesty was versatile in her dining habits.
Queen Elizabeth II rides her horse in Windsor Park in 2020. By: MEGA
Per Harrold, Elizabeth was happy “with the hamper and travel rug” to “the posher picnics where they all go out somewhere and there’s tables and there’s chairs.”
“The chefs prepared all the food, the butlers would load everything into the vehicles and off they would go,” he said.
Elizabeth wouldn’t rely on staff
While many would think the matriarch would need staff for everything, Elizabeth was self-sufficient during these outings.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward and Prince Philip on the grounds of Windsor Castle in 1976. By: MEGA
“They would go and help lay out the tables, but we wouldn’t serve the food. It would all just get put out and they would help themselves,” Harrold alleged.
“There was no staff, so it was a great chance for them to have private time as a family,” he noted.
Elizabeth would also clean herself up
The mother of four would also clean up after her family.
Queen Elizabeth II attends an event in 2019. By: MEGA
“I was once at a shooting lunch. At the end of lunch, I heard someone say, ‘I’ll do the washing-up,'” journalist Harry Mount recalled a source telling him via Daily Mail.
“I turned around and there was the Queen in her yellow washing-up gloves,” he claimed.
Elizabeth appreciated her staff
Former royal chef Darren McGrady claimed Elizabeth and her husband would always show their staffers how much they appreciated their efforts with holiday gifts.
Queen Elizabeth II after filming her 2006 Christmas broadcast. By: Anwar Hussein Collection/MEGA
“You’d be presented with a Christmas pudding, which was a Tesco’s Christmas pudding,” McGrady said on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino. “All the staff got one, along with a card from the Queen and Prince Philip. That went on for quite a few years.”