Put people at ease eyes and her smile

people, she was there for the institution, she was there for the event, and that is what we can learn from.”

Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described how the Queen's “sense of mischief” also helped put people at ease.

Ms Cooper recalled a story she said had been told to her of a Privy Council meeting where then international development secretary

Clare Short's phone went off, and Ms Short could not find it to turn it off.

“The Queen simply said: ‘Oh dear, I do hope that wasn't anyone important?”' Ms Cooper told MPS, to much laughter.

SNP MP Philippa Whitford said: “This chamber has been lifted by so many funny stories that demonstrate Her Majesty's great sense of fun.”

“But the most illuminating are those which show how she used humour to put people at ease, out of kindness. I think she's probably delighted at the sheer amount of laughter that has been in this chamber over the last two days,” Dr Whitford added.

Conservative former cabinet minister Greg Clark described the “overwhelming” moment when meeting the Queen at the Privy Council, joking: “I understand that men have suddenly been moved to curtsy in front of Her Majesty, and otherwise capable people swayed on the footstool while trying to kneel on one knee, holding up a bible in one hand and to recite the oath at the same time.

“The one person who didn't mind, as has been said, was Her Majesty herself, who put everyone at their ease.”

Mr Clark said he would “always be grateful” to former prime minister Boris Johnson for reappointing him to the cabinet over the summer, noting: “I was able to swear the oath of office to Her Majesty in person herself on July 8 at Windsor Castle.

“And when I shook Her Majesty's hand I was greeted with the most dazzling 1,000-watt smile, sparkly eyes that suggested she was absolutely thrilled to see me.

“Now, I strongly suspect that Her Majesty's demeanour did not reflect the fulfilment of a three-year hope that the prime minister would restore me to office.

“Instead it showed that at the age of 96, on a hot summer's afternoon, Her Majesty still recognised that for everyone she met it was a moment that they would treasure forever.”

Labour peer Lord Dubs recalled his loss of “tact” in asking about the Queen's speech.

Remembering a meeting with the Queen as a junior minister, he said: “Then I did something which perhaps I shouldn't have said, but my tact disappeared and I said to the Queen, ‘Your Majesty have you ever delivered a Queen's speech you didn't agree' with and there was a deathly silence, my ministerial colleagues thought I was going to be out and the Queen looked at me and said ‘yes, it has happened,' but I didn't ask her to give me examples of the occasions on which it had happened.”

Labour peer Lord Harris of Haringey said “above all I think