OBLIVIOUS tourists snapped a photo of a royal protection officer after learning he’d met the Queen – without realising they’d handed the camera to the monarch herself.
Richard Griffin was walking with Her Majesty at Balmoral when they stopped to speak with the American visitors.
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The pair had no idea they were chatting with the royal, and – believing she was a local – asked her if she’d ever met the Queen.
Pointing at Mr Griffin, she swiftly replied: “No, but he has.”
One of the visitors then wrapped an arm around Mr Griffin’s shoulders for a picture.
The tourist even had a photo with the Queen herself – all the while having no idea he’d been snapped with one of the world’s most famous people.
Mr Griffin told the hilarious story to Sky News reporters today as he enjoyed the second day of the Platinum Jubilee.
“There were two hikers coming towards us, and the Queen would always stop and say hello,” he said.
“It was two Americans on a walking holiday, and it was clear from the moment we first stopped that they hadn’t recognised the Queen.”
The male hiker began chatting with Her Majesty, and before long asked where she lived.
She replied: “I live in London, but I’ve got a holiday home just the other side of the hills.”
After learning she’d been visiting the area for more than 80 years, he replied: “You must have met the Queen.”
Remembering the story today, Mr Griffin, who worked for the royals for more than 30 years, told reporters: “Quick as a flash, she says, ‘Well I haven’t, but Dick here meets her regularly’.
“The guy said to me, ‘You’ve met the Queen? What’s she like?’
“Because I was with her for a long time and I knew I could pull her leg, I said, ‘Oh, she can be very cantankerous at times, but she’s got a lovely sense of humour’.”
The man then put his arm around Mr Griffin’s shoulder before handing his camera to the Queen and asking for a snap.
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Neither she nor the officer broke character, and after the photo was taken, Her Majesty stood alongside the Americans for her own picture.
“We never let on, and we waved goodbye,” Mr Griffin said.
“Then Her Majesty said to me, ‘I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs to friends in America’.”
The interview has since gone viral on social media as royal fans enjoy the monarch’s dry wit.
However, the Queen herself was absent from the festivities today after waving to Brits from the balcony of Buckingham Palace yesterday.
She did not attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s after suffering some discomfort, and has confirmed today that, as expected, she will not travel for the Derby.
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It’s understood she will do her best to attend great-granddaughter Lilibet’s first birthday celebrations tomorrow.
Kate Middleton today reassured worried royal fans that the monarch is “fine”, although found yesterday “very tiring”.
And despite the absence of both Her Majesty and Prince Andrew – who has tested positive for Covid – the service went off without a hitch today.
Harry and Meghan were among those to attend.
Cheers rang out as the “nervous” couple arrived hand-in-hand.
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The Sussexes were sat away from William and Kate, although seemed at ease throughout the high-profile occasion, sharing smiles and jokes with family members.
Charles and Camilla were the last royals to arrive, stopping to speak with members of the clergy before making their way to their seats in the front row.
On their walk, Charles paused to blow his daughter-in-law Kate a kiss.
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