AN UNEXPECTED ROYAL ENCOUNTER

Jean and Ted Walsham, who have lived in South Africa for the past 50 years, were both born in England and still take an interest in what is happening there.

They were very saddened to hear of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and shared their memories with Village ahead, and as we approached a passing place, two large black saloon cars approached from the other direction. The lead car flashed its lights at us, and showed no sign of stopping, so we duly pulled into the layby and stopped.

“As the cars approached, they slowed down, and swung off on to the moorland, one on each side of the road. They pulled up on the grass on either side of us.

“My wife exclaimed: ‘I’ve got the Queen alongside of me’, to which my reply was ‘and I’ve got Princess Margaret alongside of me’.”

The Queen and her sister, together with Prince Charles and Princess Anne and several corgis got out of the vehicles.

“They were obviously preparing for a picnic, so we decided we had better not try and gate-crash the party, and when the way was clear, we waved goodbye and drove on our way,” said Jean.

“The only males in the party were the two drivers, no signs of any other security. But as we drove away, we realised we could see several figures on the skyline, so presumably we were being watched.

“An interesting encounter, which we still remember clearly after 70 years.”