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The Queen’s secret trip to theatre stuns audience
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter15.10.09
The Queen stunned a London theatre audience by slipping in to see a performance unannounced, minus an entourage.
She and Prince Philip apologetically squeezed into their seats for War Horse at the New London Theatre as the lights dimmed for curtain-up.
The Queen wore a simple dark green dress and any bodyguards she had were “so discreet as to be invisible”, according to theatre-goers on Monday night.
A journalist from The Lady magazine, who attended the performance, said: “The Queen and the Duke sat down as the lights dimmed and it was a huge shock when people realised who they were.
“They were incredibly apologetic for asking people to let them past and there was no hubbub or fuss about it all. It was amazing, they just sat among the audience and enjoyed the performance. At the interval they disappeared and reappeared very discreetly. When they left at the end, they were given a round of applause, which the Queen acknowledged with a wave.”
The Queen and her husband often make incognito trips to the West End but are rarely spotted. One aide said: “The Queen has regularly undertaken similar private visits throughout her reign without any fuss. It allows her to live a bit more of a normal life. Most of her staff are not told in advance if she is planning an evening out. She is keen on the theatre.”
She was last spotted on a private outing in 2006, at the musical Billy Elliot, arriving in what appeared to be a green taxi at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
The Queen did not want to miss War Horse, an award-winning First World War drama. The play, adapted from a children's book by Michael Morpurgo, has extended its West End run.
Reader views (34)
Ray Martin,-I'm sorry but you are wrong,are you really saying that all the indian and pakistani people that have been born here since the fifties are not British?,the example you have shown with regards to british servicemens offspring is merely a red herring as they were/are nothing more than visitors to that country,and yes spike milligan was half Indian,"ist das nicht Klar"?.
- Auf Deutsch, Stalinist Britain
saw the play last Sat-it really is an amazingly moving production-Please go see !
- Huw Davies, Cardiff Wales
Thomas of London is uninformed. The government gives the Queen money and she pays taxes on it.
This money is a minute amount out in comparison with the income from the Crown Estates. That is her income which she gives to the state. If she asked it back we would all be a lot poorer.
In addition she is a huge attraction and much better than a President.
- Simon Wells, BRENTWOOD ENGLAND
Sorry Auf Deutsch your argument does not hold water. If Phil is a Greek then Spike Milligan is an Indian and all those children born in Detmold (you should not have to Google that, given your pseudonym) of British Army fathers and British mothers are German.
- Ray Martin, Waterlooville, Hants
Long live Queen Elizabeth 2. I would love it if she and Phillip could pop in to tea one afternoon.
- Neil, Farnham
So one or two think the Royals are parasites.
Surely they cannot be put on the same level as benefit scroungers?
I happen to think they serve the country and its real values and traditions far more than some.
Why do crowds turn up wherever they appear and conduct themselves respectfully.
- Alan, uk
I'm sorry that you allowed someone like Thomas, who clearly hates this country, to publish his mean views. He will no doubt be happy to see an unelected 'president' bliar.
- John Bell, Nottm, UK
Our Queen and Prince Phillip are priceless and are one of the only things left in this country that has prestige and respect abroad (and here from most of us). In her 80s the Queen continues to work and so does Prince Phillip. She's dedicated her life to her country and has never let us down. When I lived abroad for some years I saw the point of the Royal Family; without our Royal Family this country would be nothing and nowhere - many countries envy us our Royal Family and would love to have one of their own.
- Jentry, London UK
I don't know why she doesn't do a 'diana' and go incognito, imagine what fun she'd have getting 'tut tuts' from people annoyed she came in late or if she had to queue for a g&t and knocking it back before 'last call'was announced!! Its fun being a pleb...
- Jessica, london
More interesting than hearing about Posh/Jordan and others of their ilk.
Good for them, I hear the play is amazing.
- John Hales, Barcelona Spain
Ray Martin,-stop splitting hairs,Phillip was born in Greece,in my book that make him Greek,also I'm very happy with my user name,can you say the same?.
- Auf Deutsch, Stalinist Britain.
my friends were there the same evening and phillip said that all his family had seen it so they thought they should
- Malcolm Jacobs, london NW4
Auf Deutsch - if she was on 20K a year she probably could not afford London theatre prices.
- Doug, Barnet
Her visit to the theatre should have gone un-reported, perhaps she would go more often if people did not make a song and dance over it. also has she no rights.
- Jim Allan, Lake District
The Queen is no parasite. The cost of the Royal Family id dwarfed by the money she brings in from tourists. Whilst that is not why she is there it at least prevents her being a burden. Instead we would have a president. Imagine Browne or Blair how awful would that be. The Queen does no one any harm, and has respect from most. If she slipped out for a night out to see a show I hope she enjoyed it. If she went officially it would have been so much more inconvenient for others there. Why do people have to be so petty about these things. Long may she reign.
- Patrick Mccrossan, Birmingham
Just to remind 'Auf Deutsch' that Phil is no Greek, merely born in Corfu. Phil's blood is Danish and German and was part educated at a German public school. In view of this perhaps 'Auf Deutsch' should change pseudonym as he/she is not much up with German history.
- Ray Martin, Waterlooville, Hants
Dear Thomas of London.
Please check your facts before spouting your anti royal rubbish all over these pages. The Royal family costs a mere 62pence per person per year, which I'm hoping you can be generous enough to splash out on. What you are sadly failiing to realise is the billions of pounds in trourism that our royals bring into the economy from US and far east markets.
Please think about your comments before bothering to write in next time.
God Save the Queen!
- Greg, Wimbledon
Thomas: it would be interesting to see your views on the EU - largely unelected, and a huge drain of funds on the UK, unlike the monarchy - which has been proven to be a financial contributor to the country.
- Adam, London
Most respected Head of State in the World. Thomas from London I think you are very poorly educated with your ridiculous comparison. Glad to see the majority on here support her.
- Dave, London
That's nothing, I saw the pair of them in MacDonalds the other day. Phil had a quarterpounder with cheese (meal), and Liz had Chicken Nuggets and a strawberry milkshake...
- George, London
Thomas, the Queen is unelected - yes - but she is there with the continuing blessing of mine and your Parliament, the Mother of all Democracies.
What a killjoy you are. You really should get out more; go and see a show.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
The Queen has been Monarch practically my whole life. A wonderful lady. I still don't see, however, how she's going to fit it after the E.U. Constitution shortly comes into effect. Provinces don't have monarchies; only sovereign countries have monarchies. Any squeeze-out of the Monarchy in the U.K. will certainly wait until the Queen has left us, but you can be sure it'll be there for whoever takes over (Charles/William). It's interesting to see Labour systematically getting rid of all of the British heritage institutions that have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, i.e. the House of Lords as the top judicial body is the latest example. To the average person this is all probably going unnoticed, but there is a bigger plan underway. Brits have to be separated from warm thoughts towards their heritage if the new country is ever to take over their allegiance!!
- Phil Jones, London UK
Kev London, You can't even spell Theatre properly so leave Sqiz alone old boy..
- El Del, Valencia Spain
Good for them.
They deserve some free time and normality.
- Rikrok, London
The queen is an unelected parasite on the British tax payer along with the rest of her family. It's time for Britain to grow up and get rid of the lot.
Some democratic example we set the world: An unelected head of state, unelected upper house of Parliament and an unelected Prime Minister. Mugabe eat your heart out.
- Thomas, London
What a charming story.Did Philip get them in during the break, or did he revert o the hip-flask!
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
I'd vote for her.
- Gordon Kennedy, JustVoteThemOut.com
Ah but what flavour ice cream did she have, and was she outraged by the price of said ice cream, like us mere mortals? Bet she didn't join the queue for the ladies like everyone else!
- Kenny, London
This is a lovely story,perhaps the Queen and phil the greek would also like to manage on 20k a year and shop at Tesco's,or do they not crave that much normality?.
- Auf Deutsch, Stalinist Britain.
Lovely story..but why on earth has a reader,"Kev",chosen to attack a fellow called "Squiz". If "Squiz" sounds to you "Kev",like he has never "set foot in a theatre" then "Kev" where did you learn "old boy" ?..strange world..
- Michael, Switzerland
The Royal Monarch seems very Generous and Fun Loving
- William, New Malden, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.
Squiz,Islington. With a name like that i doubt you have ever set foot in a theater in your life old boy.
- Kev, London-UK
Well Done Mamm and Philip.
A number of years ago I was at The London Coliseum to see ENO in Cosi Fan Tutti when the Gorbachovs came in - security was a little more obvious but I think all the audience took this as incredible, personal, compliment to the people of the Nation.
Our Queens humility and sensitivity is in stark contrast to a number of those in HER Parliament
- Roy, Billericay Essex
I saw War Horse a couple of weeks ago and it was excellent. I am sure HM would have enjoyed it.
- Squiz, Islington
