How she masked a galloping rage

DURING a royal cruise back from Finland in May 1976, as Britannia was passing from the Baltic through the Kiel canal, the crew were asked to alert the Queen when the Yacht was passing a well-known stud. The request went astray and the Queen missed her horses. Her quiet fury was obvious the moment she appeared for dinner. A chilly silence prevailed as the officers present nervously took their seats, whereupon they were treated to a fascinating display of royal anger management. The Queen suddenly put her napkin over her

face. She then slowly peeled it down to reveal a monarch transformed, smiling warmly and changing the subject. ‘It was like a magic trick,’ says one of the guests. ‘Suddenly, here was this new smiley Queen. It was quite extraordinary. And Prince Philip did the same thing.’ It was not merely a revealing illustration of iron self-control, but also provides a sense of the way the Queen feels that life is one unending performance, even on home territory among close confidantes. Though reprieved, the crew of Britannia would never make that mistake again.