Queen Elizabeth II Gave Sassy Reply To Royal Photographer When He Asked Her To Smile For Picture

Oct 05, 2022 by apost team

2022 was a big year for Queen Elizabeth II, who in February celebrated 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and the 15 Commonwealth realms. This was not only a milestone for her personally but also a historical moment for royals the world over, as she became the first British ruling monarch to reach the seven-decade mark. Remarkably, in addition to this staggering benchmark, Elizabeth II also made royal history as the second longest-serving monarch ever. She was only bested by one other ruler, Louis XIV of France. 

This long, record-breaking rule began on Feb. 6, 1952, when Elizabeth, then 26, became queen after the death of her father King George VI. When she sadly died on Sept. 8, 2022, her son Charles III in turn became king. After 70 years and 214 days as monarch, Queen Elizabeth II passed away while at her home in Balmoral. Buckingham Palace had earlier announced that she was under medical attention, which somewhat alerted the public to her decline in health. That day was a devastating time for the royal family as members gathered to be by her side in her final moments.  

However, despite the tragedy, memories of Queen Elizabeth II's character alleviate some of the pain of her loss. Despite having reigned for such a long period of time, the queen retained a very personable sense of humor. In the wake of her death, many stories of her pranks have surfaced, including a cheeky comment she gave photographer, Ranald Mackechnie, in May 2022 during official pictures and preparations for her jubilee celebration.

Laughter remained an important part of life for the queen. So much so that, that she often made fun of herself. According to the Daily Mail, following the wedding of King Charles III and Princess Diana in 1981, while at a wedding after party, Queen Elizabeth was enjoying a dry martini when she poked fun at herself. The family was watching wedding video highlights when Queen Elizabeth II got the attention of Prince Phillip and said: “Oh Philip, do look! I’ve got my Miss Piggy face on.” The joke quickly caught on and spread to staff and family members. 

Another candid and jovial moment happened in 1998. The queen had been hosting the then-crown prince of Saudi Arabia when she offered to take him on a tour. According to the book “Ever The Diplomat,” Queen Elizabeth II “to (Abdullah’s) surprise … climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen.” 

On a different occasion, the queen’s former protection officer, Richard Griffin, recalled how American tourists at Balmoral asked Her Royal Highness if she lived in the area, to which she replied that she had a house nearby, as per The Mirror. Griffin said the visitors asked the monarch if she had ever met the queen, to which she replied: “No, but this policeman has." The former officer said the group then moved along without any idea who they had met.

apost.com

Photographer Mackechnie had another humorous and memorable encounter with the queen in May 2022 when he was tasked with taking a portrait photo of the queen. The picture was being made in preparation for Elizabeth II's then-upcoming Jubilee celebrations. 

Mackechnie, thus, arrived at Windsor Castle, ready to photograph the longstanding monarch. In speaking with reporters, Mackechnie recalled the historic moment in his career. He said, "She arrived and walked in and we said hello, then she just looks at me and she goes, 'What do you want?'" No doubt the monarch had sat for countless photographs in her time as queen and knew to look to the photographer for creative direction. Recalling his response, Mackechnie remembered: "I said, 'Well, I want you to smile and look happy.'" A novel idea; however, the jovial queen apparently saw at that moment an opportunity. Quick thinking, she responded, "Well, you can't make me." Seemingly only slightly phased, Mackechnie said, "Well, you could try," to which the queen giggled. 

This and other moments perfectly showcase how Queen Elizabeth wasn’t just an iconic figure, but also a human just like the rest of us. During her long, memorable reign as queen, Elizabeth II not only showed the world that she was more than capable of holding such a powerful position but also that she was still human. In these glimpses, she showed off how she maintained a wonderful personality and kept her cheeky mannerisms over the years. Surely, she'll be remembered for these moments of humility and humor. 

What would your response have been to such a cheeky remark? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family and any fellow royalists!