The Queen brushed off a compliment from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after he told her she was ‘quite the hit’ at the G7 summit as she carried out her first in person audience since March 2020.
The monarch, 95, hosted Mr Morrison at Windsor Castle this afternoon, marking the first time she has hosted a world leader or visiting dignitary in person, rather than virtually, since March 2020, just before England’s first lockdown.
During the brief conversation, Mr Morrison told the monarch she had been ‘quite the hit’ when she met world leaders including Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden at the Eden Project on Friday night, adding: ‘Everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night.’
The comment prompted the Queen to respond: ‘Oh Lord, were they really?’
Mr Morrison told the monarch she had been ‘quite the hit’ when she met world leaders including Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden at the Eden Project on Friday night (pictured), adding: ‘Everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night’
The monarch, 95, hosted Mr Morrison at Windsor Castle this afternoon, marking the first time she has hosted a world leader or visiting dignitary in person, rather than virtually, since March 2020, just before England’s first lockdown. Cameras captured their exchange (pictured)
The meeting, where Mr Morrison wore a crisp suit and blue tie and the monarch opted for a summery yellow dress, took place in Windsor Castle today
As he walked into the room, the Queen said: ‘It’s very nice to see you, in person this time.’ To which Mr Morrison responded: ‘Yes, Your Majesty, it’s wonderful to see you.’
The Queen then gestured to the floor next to her and said: ‘If you stand here, they want to take a photo,’ to which Mr Morrison said: ‘That would be lovely’.
The monarch continued: ‘So you were down there but I didn’t see you, in Cornwall.’
The Australian leader explained he had not been invited to the Friday night event because Australia is not part of the G7, saying: ‘No, that was just the G7, Your Majesty. We were sort of an extension party, as they call them.’
The remark prompted a giggle from the Queen. Mr Morrison continued: ‘You were quite the hit, everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night.’
Typically humble, the Queen said: ‘Oh Lord, were they really?’ Mr Morrison added: ‘They were, they were thrilled to see you.’
The engagement marked a return to regular duties for the Queen, who has been carrying out audiences over video calls over the last 15 months.
In March she made her first in-person official royal engagement in five months, delighting the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force with a quip about Typhoon jets being ‘sent off to chase the Russians’.
The Queen wore a vibrant yellow dress with blue flowers for the occasion, which she accessorised with her usual pearl necklace and earrings.
The Queen could be seen laughing after Scott called her a ‘hit’ with the G7 leaders last weekend
The pair appeared to hit-it-off as they were photographed smiling and exchanging pleasantries in the Oak Room.
It was Mr Morrison’s second meeting with the Queen as prime minister after visiting Buckingham Palace in June 2019.
Although it’s not known what the two discussed on this occasion, last time Queen Elizabeth – who has a deep love of horses – chatted with Mr Morrison about Australian thoroughbred Winx, after it won a record 33 races in a row.
In a historic deal that was Briton’s first negotiated from scratch since leaving the European Union, Aussie producers will be able to export more of their world-leading beef, lamb and cheese to the UK and young people will be able to move more freely between the two countries.
The agreement was thrashed out by Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson over a three-hour dinner in Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night where the friends feasted on Scottish salmon and Welsh lamb, washed down with Australian wine.
After today’s breakthrough announcement, Britons under 35 will be allowed to live and work in Australia for three years without having to do farm work.
In exchange, the UK will remove a number of tariffs for Aussie businesses bringing in goods.
In March the Queen made her first in-person official royal engagement in five months, delighting the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force with a quip about Typhoon jets being ‘sent off to chase the Russians’
