0:00:03 > 0:00:0690 years ago, our longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II,
0:00:06 > 0:00:08was born.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Since then, millions of us have met her, and many have got close.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15You're having a good old stare at the Queen, aren't you?
0:00:15 > 0:00:16We had a good view of her!
0:00:16 > 0:00:18But how well do we know her?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23She is on our stamps and she's on our coins and she's in our hearts.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27This is Her Majesty as you've never seen her before.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Good Queen hair you've got going on there!
0:00:29 > 0:00:34I was completely paralysed as this amazing icon walked over my gangway.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36A people's portrait of the Queen.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38She wasn't there doing a job,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41she was there because she was genuinely concerned.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44This is your main workshop now, then?
0:00:44 > 0:00:47In this series, it's handbags at dawn for John Craven.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51And what... It's obviously leather. Ah, ah! Oh, can I not touch it?
0:00:51 > 0:00:52Oh, look at them!
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Carol Kirkwood meets a pint-sized pony
0:00:56 > 0:00:58who munched on Her Majesty.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00No, bless him. Did the Queen think it was funny?
0:01:00 > 0:01:05She thought it was hilarious. She knows Shetlands, so she knows they've got a mind of their own.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08As for me, I'm in the most densely populated part of Britain.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It's a place that I like to call home, and so does our Queen.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Today, I'm in London and the south-east -
0:01:27 > 0:01:30where the Queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33attracts over 400,000 visitors annually.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37'Even though it's only open for eight weeks of the year!'
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Like me, our Queen was born in London,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44in fact, she was born just over there in Bruton Street.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's no longer a house, it's a Chinese restaurant!
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Let's hope it's a good one!
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Here in the capital, we're used to seeing the formal Queen.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59From the grandest of occasions like her Coronation...
0:02:01 > 0:02:04..to her grandson Prince William's wedding...
0:02:07 > 0:02:09..and the annual Trooping of the Colour.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20You know, the Queen still carries out more than 400 visits
0:02:20 > 0:02:21across Britain every year,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26and if you throw in the fact that she does a few global trips abroad,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29then you begin to understand how busy she is.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32She gets to meet world leaders and our biggest stars
0:02:32 > 0:02:36but also spends time with ordinary folk.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39And that's what I want to do today, I want to get up close
0:02:39 > 0:02:40and personal to her people,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43just to get to know them a little bit better,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46because they've been lucky enough to meet our Queen.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52And I'm sure London's East Enders won't be lost for words.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56She's absolutely brilliant, she's what Britain's all about.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58She's lovely, I like the hats,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02I like the way how she dresses, you know, and she's very...
0:03:02 > 0:03:07calm, you know, how she comes across. Yeah, that's our Queen!
0:03:07 > 0:03:09You know. Yeah.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12She seems kind, calm, relaxing all the time,
0:03:12 > 0:03:17yeah, all the time, especially always laughing.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19I think she's a fantastic lady,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22she's served this country absolutely fantastic.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I wish her a happy birthday
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and my daddy's coming up to 99 in April,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31if she ever decides to look for a new man, he's there for her!
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I'd just like to say happy birthday to the Queen, love her!
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I love my city, London, you know, it's such a wonderful
0:03:40 > 0:03:45sort of cultural mix of people who live, work and play here.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50But how often do we stop and think about the role the Queen plays
0:03:50 > 0:03:54when the country is suffering, as it did in 2005?
0:03:56 > 0:03:59On one dark day that summer, something terrible happened
0:03:59 > 0:04:03that affected every Londoner - worker and tourist alike.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06It sent shock waves around Britain and across the world.
0:04:11 > 0:04:147th July 2005 -
0:04:14 > 0:04:18it's a date that has become etched in the national consciousness
0:04:18 > 0:04:23because it was the time that terrorists planted four bombs
0:04:23 > 0:04:28in the very heart of London's public transport system,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30with just devastating results.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Now, I certainly remember where I was at the time.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I was receiving e-mails from friends all over world
0:04:35 > 0:04:37concerned about my safety.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42And I was safe, but what about my family, what about my friends,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46what about the fellow Londoners who use public transport every day
0:04:46 > 0:04:51to travel to work or just to go about their business?
0:04:55 > 0:05:0052 innocent people were killed and 770 injured
0:05:00 > 0:05:05when bombs exploded on one London bus and three Tube trains.
0:05:07 > 0:05:117/7 shocked the capital, its residents and our Queen -
0:05:11 > 0:05:16and became the worst single terrorist atrocity committed on British soil.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Driver Steve Eldridge was on duty at Aldgate Station
0:05:22 > 0:05:23when he heard a blast.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27The day started off normally.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30All of a sudden there was this almighty explosion
0:05:30 > 0:05:33that came from the direction of the tunnel.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36What did you think had happened, when you heard that,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39did you think there'd been a collision of trains or what?
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Well, I said to Paul, my colleague, "What was that?"
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And I think we both knew what it was
0:05:45 > 0:05:48but didn't want to admit it to ourselves, really.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It was rush hour when the bomb detonated on the Circle Line
0:05:54 > 0:05:56train travelling east to Aldgate.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03We looked in the direction of the tunnel and all of a sudden
0:06:03 > 0:06:05all this smoke came bellowing out.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09But by then, a couple of people started to come out of the tunnel
0:06:09 > 0:06:10and they were covered in blood.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21So, we decided we had to go down into the tunnel.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Didn't you think something... another bomb might have been there?
0:06:23 > 0:06:25As you said, you couldn't see anything.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Well, if we didn't go down nobody was ever going to go down there.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Three men and four women took the full force of the bomb
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and died on the Aldgate train.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Many who survived had life-changing injuries.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46I got to car two and that was where the bomb had gone off.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47What was that like?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Was it just...
0:06:49 > 0:06:53The whole of the side of the train had been blown out completely.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56We went to car three then because we couldn't see any sign of life
0:06:56 > 0:07:00in car two and everybody was climbing the windows,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03really, needing to get out.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04Oh, my word.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Because their carriage was completely full of smoke.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11So our priority was to try and get some air in to that carriage.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Steve and his colleagues bravely helped passengers to safety.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22A few years later, the Queen visited Aldgate Station
0:07:22 > 0:07:24in tribute to the victims of the tragedy.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30She also wanted to mark the courage of people who rallied around
0:07:30 > 0:07:31that day.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Steve and fellow driver Les were invited to a special lunch
0:07:35 > 0:07:37at the Gherkin building nearby.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41We went over to the Gherkin, we went in and there was five tables
0:07:41 > 0:07:45in like a semicircle, five round tables. Yes.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47And there was name places.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51So, the middle table, just inside the door,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54was where Her Majesty was going to be sitting.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Were you sitting next to Her Majesty?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00And we looked at each other and there's our names.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03On this middle table. How fantastic, Steve!
0:08:03 > 0:08:05So I sat directly opposite Her Majesty.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08How did that feel, looking at her for all that time,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10because you sat there for the entire lunch?
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Yes, it was surreal.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Did you take any photographs that day, Steve?
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Well, we didn't know what the etiquette was,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19so we didn't take any pictures.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24But I did take one at the end, just after she'd left, of our table.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26That's Her Majesty's glass
0:08:26 > 0:08:29that she used, with her favourite tipple in it,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33and that I believe was gin and Dubonnet.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34That is fantastic.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39What a wonderful memory. It was, it was special.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41But, you know, for a special person. Yes, well...
0:08:41 > 0:08:44What you did, mate, walking back into that tunnel,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47with all that smoke and everything else.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Well, we only did what anybody else would do.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54I think you did more than that. That's brilliant, my man, brilliant.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00You know, I have to say it's really sobering just
0:09:00 > 0:09:05standing here very close to where the bomb went off on 7/7
0:09:05 > 0:09:11and it just makes me realise how courageous Steve was as a man,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14you know, to be able to go back into that tunnel
0:09:14 > 0:09:19to rescue all those people - wow, pretty amazing.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The Queen met heroes like Steve
0:09:26 > 0:09:28and she also met some of the 7/7 survivors.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34On the day of the bombings, most of the injured at Aldgate
0:09:34 > 0:09:37were taken to the Royal London Hospital,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39and I'm meeting one of them here.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Hey, Bruce, how are you, mate?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I'm good, thanks, Ainsley. Nice to meet you.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49'Bruce Lait was on his way to a rehearsal with his dancing partner
0:09:49 > 0:09:52'and was sitting in carriage two of the Aldgate Tube
0:09:52 > 0:09:53'when the bomb went off.'
0:09:55 > 0:09:58What was it like for someone like you who was actually on the Tube?
0:09:58 > 0:10:04Well, basically, my day started with me coming to rehearse
0:10:04 > 0:10:06for a show that I was in.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11And also it was the day we were granted the Olympics in 2012.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16So, I sat on the train, I opened the Metro newspaper,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20and I was looking at it and I was reading about us getting the Olympics,
0:10:20 > 0:10:21and I thought, "Wow, fantastic!"
0:10:21 > 0:10:24And then before I know it, I was out cold
0:10:24 > 0:10:26and I didn't really know what had gone on.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I kept telling myself, "Wake up, wake up."
0:10:30 > 0:10:35And all of a sudden I came to, I woke up, and then I realised
0:10:35 > 0:10:37there was this person lying on top of me
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and there was twisted metal wrapped around my legs.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42And...
0:10:42 > 0:10:47So you were quite close to the explosion to have that impact?
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Literally, virtually on top of you.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Yeah, I mean, the hard thing to deal with
0:10:52 > 0:10:55is that between me and the bomber there were people.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59And people had to die so that I could live, basically.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02How does that make you feel, Bruce?
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Do you just go through...it wasn't my time. What goes through...
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Yeah, basically, it wasn't my time,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12and it was a very hard thing to come to terms with
0:11:12 > 0:11:16because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here right now,
0:11:16 > 0:11:17and why me?
0:11:17 > 0:11:24Why was I special, why did I have to live and someone else had to die?
0:11:24 > 0:11:26It was a really hard thing to deal with.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31With the whole world reeling from the devastating attacks,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33just one day after the bombing,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37the Queen came to visit the injured in hospital.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Bruce was one of the survivors chosen to meet her.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45You were in one of the trains?
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Yes, I was in the train that went from Old Street to Aldgate.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51What did you say to her, Bruce?
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Well, she asked me some questions, you know, she asked me what I did,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57and where was I going,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and I told her I was off to London to rehearse for a show that we
0:12:01 > 0:12:02were in.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Legs all right?
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Yes, legs are fine, just the facial injuries.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10And I can't hear out of this ear, which is why I'm...
0:12:10 > 0:12:13No. I've got a burst eardrum.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16The one thing that came across about the Queen to me
0:12:16 > 0:12:19was that she wasn't there doing a job.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21She was there because she was genuinely concerned.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26And I thought that was the most striking thing about that meeting.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31Well, I hope the dancing will still be able to continue. Oh, it will.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Definitely an honour. Yeah. Definitely an honour.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Well, I'm sure the Queen's kind words would help anyone
0:12:38 > 0:12:39get back on their feet.
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Bruce did keep on dancing
0:12:43 > 0:12:47and he now coaches the Strictly stars of the future from
0:12:47 > 0:12:49his dance school in Ipswich.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56'This is for you, Ma'am - Bruce's birthday cha-cha-cha!'
0:12:56 > 0:12:59One, two, three, cha-cha-cha...two, three.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Cha-cha-cha!
0:13:01 > 0:13:02AINSLEY LAUGHS
0:13:04 > 0:13:07There's nine million people who live in my city
0:13:07 > 0:13:10and anyone could have been on that train or that Tube.
0:13:10 > 0:13:157/7 really rocked London, it rocked the world.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19It made us all realise that terrorism is a nasty, nasty thing
0:13:19 > 0:13:22and for people like Steve and Bruce
0:13:22 > 0:13:27however sobering that might be for them, to have our Queen come
0:13:27 > 0:13:32and just touch them, just to kind of recognise the fact
0:13:32 > 0:13:35that they are special people that have survived, you know,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38it's just remarkable.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49When the Queen was crowned in 1953, she pledged her devotion
0:13:49 > 0:13:54not just to the United Kingdom but also to the Commonwealth.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01And with regular visits to its 53 nations,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04she is a unique symbol of unity at its heart.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11After the war, people from all over the Commonwealth were
0:14:11 > 0:14:14encouraged to come and work in the United Kingdom.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Among them were my Jamaican parents, Chester and Peppy.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25'Today, I've invited my sister Jacqueline over to my place.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'We grew up knowing the Queen was a very special person.'
0:14:28 > 0:14:31My mum and dad were two of nearly 500,000 people
0:14:31 > 0:14:35who came from the Commonwealth, just after World War II,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39probably around about the time of the 1950s, to live in Great Britain.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42For them, Britain was truly great,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44and that was very much down to our Queen.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49And, Sis, we've got some fantastic memories here,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52not only have we got these wonderful commemorative coins,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56but looking back here, look at that, for instance, Dad.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00And of course, Mother - well, she responded to the call,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03and came up to train as nurse.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06So many came from the Commonwealth. Absolutely.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Were the streets paved in gold, do you think, what was the attraction?
0:15:10 > 0:15:15I think it was more an opportunity to progress themselves.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20They felt that Britain was the country where you could have a good life. Absolutely.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23'And it was our late mother who instilled a healthy respect
0:15:23 > 0:15:27'for Her Majesty into my sister and me.'
0:15:27 > 0:15:31There's our lovely mum. She was a big royalist, wasn't she? She was.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Big, big love of the Queen. She looks rather regal there.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Yes, she had poise and dignity.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39I just remember, Christmas time,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43every time there was the Queen's Speech,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45we all just sort of had to pay attention.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Mum had this thing and we didn't eat until after the Queen's Speech.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53I was just going to say. We had to hold out till after three o'clock
0:15:53 > 0:15:56when the Queen's Speech was on.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59We would all gather around the television.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02There's a certain amount of respect we have. Absolutely.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05And for what she's done for the country
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and I think our parents, certainly our mum,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10really recognised that.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20'I always wanted to meet our Queen, maybe because of my dear old mum.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22'So I was very excited
0:16:22 > 0:16:25'when I got a little closer as a young chef in the '80s.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29'On more than one occasion, I got asked to cook for
0:16:29 > 0:16:34'Princess Margaret, and her sister would sometimes pop in for lunch.'
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Now, Sis. Yes, dear.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39I know this looks rather bland but this is the type of thing I would
0:16:39 > 0:16:44serve if I went to cook for Princess Margaret at Kensington Palace.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49'And for the Queen and her sister, I'd knock up dishes like this
0:16:49 > 0:16:52'simple combo of cod, mash, cabbage and bacon.'
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Not too much of the spice?
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Not too much spice, but the great thing...
0:16:57 > 0:17:00You know, I was able to cook for Princess Margaret
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and of course her sister, the Queen.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05That's it - food fit for a Queen!
0:17:06 > 0:17:11Fresh, clean, very nice.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14'I may have tickled her taste buds in the '80s
0:17:14 > 0:17:16'but I didn't get to meet the Queen
0:17:16 > 0:17:18'till I was well established as a TV chef.'
0:17:18 > 0:17:2240 seconds! Yeah, all right, Fern. Quiet!
0:17:22 > 0:17:23LAUGHTER
0:17:25 > 0:17:28In 2006, I was invited to meet the Queen face-to-face,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32at a celebrity charity lunch for Age UK.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37I remember the Queen's equerry coming up and saying,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39"Would you like to meet Her Majesty?"
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Sis, my legs just started to shake.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Jellied eels!
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Jellied legs! "Yes, please," you know.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I don't know why because when I did meet her, oh,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54instantly she just made you feel comfortable.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57I just remember her saying, "And we know what you do."
0:17:57 > 0:18:03And at that moment I wanted our mum to be there
0:18:03 > 0:18:05because she'd have felt so proud.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The Queen watched my son on television.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12She'd have told everybody at the ambulance headquarters.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14She'd have told church, she'd have told everybody.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The whole neighbourhood.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17Everything.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20And she said, "We know what you do."
0:18:20 > 0:18:24And she said, "Do they really accomplish that in that time?"
0:18:24 > 0:18:28She was amazed that the chefs could actually cook food of that quality in that time.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30You know what, Mum would have been so, so proud.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49As it turns out, my taxi driver, Alan Cohen, has a rather splendid
0:18:49 > 0:18:51royal yarn of his own.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Now, Alan, you've met the Queen, haven't you?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Yep. I'm on the London Taxi Driver's Fund
0:18:56 > 0:18:58for Underprivileged Children.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00'Alan and his fellow cabbies
0:19:00 > 0:19:04'wanted to take the kids on the trip of a lifetime.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08'So he wrote a letter to the Palace to ask if they could pop in and meet the Queen.'
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Next thing I know - no mobile phones then -
0:19:13 > 0:19:16my wife got a phone call saying Buckingham Palace here, she said,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18"Don't mess about," and put the phone down.
0:19:18 > 0:19:24The gentleman phoned back and said, "Please don't do that, Mrs Cohen, everybody does that to me.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27"Please can you get Alan to phone me?" Which I did do.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30And he said, "It's on!"
0:19:32 > 0:19:37On 7th June 1988, a convoy of 120 taxis
0:19:37 > 0:19:41took over 300 disadvantaged and special needs kids
0:19:41 > 0:19:42for their big day out.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And Alan here was in the driving seat.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Right, it's the drive programme. 9.15, we've got to leave.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53So tell me, what happened on the day, Al?
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Well, we met up in a place called Beaumont Square, Stepney Green.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01And we had all the cabs lined up decorated with balloons
0:20:01 > 0:20:05and bunting and God knows what.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08All the kids arrived there, we got them all in the cabs.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14And we set off in convoy, right the way through the City.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20The Lord Mayor of London took the salute outside the Mansion House.
0:20:20 > 0:20:26We went past St Paul's, along the Strand, into The Mall,
0:20:26 > 0:20:31and the cabs formed up on the hard shoulder on one side of The Mall.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34We took a whole party of 700 into the forecourt.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Oh. And they watched the Changing The Guard
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and that's never been done before.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Good morning, boys and girls.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Can I first of all welcome you all to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace?
0:20:46 > 0:20:49They had a garrison sergeant major
0:20:49 > 0:20:52and he got everybody to form up in a square around the door.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56And the Queen came out.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06She went round all of us, walked round, welcomed everybody,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08had a chat with everybody.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12She puts you at your ease, it's a very strange feeling.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15You think you're going to be a bundle of nerves but you're not really.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20Three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen. Hip-hip.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22ALL: Hooray!
0:21:22 > 0:21:23Hip-hip. Hooray!
0:21:25 > 0:21:27It was just unreal.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31What a day, Alan, what a fantastic day.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Alan's dropping me off near Buckingham Palace.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43When the Queen's in residence, Londoners and visitors
0:21:43 > 0:21:45gather round here in their droves.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Millions turned out for her Coronation in 1953,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54lining the procession route from the Palace to Westminster Abbey.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Everyone desperate for a glimpse of the new Queen.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04I'm here to meet an amazing couple who waited up all night to catch
0:22:04 > 0:22:07a glimpse of the new monarch, right here on The Mall.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10But they ended up with more than they bargained for!
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Audrey, Ralph! How are you doing? Lovely to see you!
0:22:18 > 0:22:23Hello, Ralph, how are you doing? What's it like being back on The Mall after all these years?
0:22:23 > 0:22:2463 years.
0:22:24 > 0:22:2863 years ago! Yeah.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33We've been married 60 years. 63 years, we met here.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34And this is exactly where you met.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39More or less, it would in this part here where we met.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43How did it all come about? How did you first...
0:22:43 > 0:22:47My friend was bringing his girlfriend up for the Coronation.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50But he said he had a friend of his girlfriend
0:22:50 > 0:22:54who wanted someone to join to make a four, so I said,
0:22:54 > 0:22:58"That's all right, I don't mind doing that."
0:22:58 > 0:23:02It was a blind date, really. It was a blind date, wasn't it?
0:23:02 > 0:23:04So there was no-one in your life at that stage?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Oh, no. Not really...
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Oh, not really?! First time you've heard that, isn't it, Ralph?!
0:23:13 > 0:23:15On the night of 1st June,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18three million people lined the streets to catch
0:23:18 > 0:23:20a glimpse of their new Queen.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Like many others, Audrey and Ralph camped out all night.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28The boys bought some blankets,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and we brought odds and ends of food.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Yeah, it was really exciting.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37So we came and bagged our pitch the afternoon before, didn't we?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Yeah. So what was in the sandwiches?
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Oh, jam!
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Oh, jam! Ha-ha!
0:23:44 > 0:23:46As that procession went past
0:23:46 > 0:23:49did it take your breath away, did you feel a bit...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Oh, yes, yeah, I mean I'd never seen anything of the Royal Family
0:23:52 > 0:23:55before, so to see them going down here with
0:23:55 > 0:23:58all their regalia as well, was something special.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03By which time it was pouring with rain,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and the carriages were closed, apart from the one.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10The Queen of Tonga. It was absolutely throwing
0:24:10 > 0:24:14it down with rain and she was still there in the open carriage. Wow.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20There was always something to watch wasn't there, really?
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Throughout the day, early morning. And the night, things
0:24:23 > 0:24:28happening all through the night. It was during the night it was announced along The Mall
0:24:28 > 0:24:32somebody came along and said they'd conquered Everest, of course!
0:24:32 > 0:24:34It was a wonderful occasion, really.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Well, I've got a little bit of a surprise for you guys.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41I just went and picked those up.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Oh!
0:24:44 > 0:24:45Sandwiches, jam sandwiches.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Jam sandwiches.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48The important thing was the tin
0:24:48 > 0:24:54because when the procession came back I got a better view...
0:24:55 > 0:24:57..by standing on the tin.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Ha-ha! Come on, let's wave together then, Ralph.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03There she goes, look!
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Still love him do you? I do, yes.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11Still love her?
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Tell her so every day. Really?
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Yeah, he does, actually, he does, every day.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Aw. I think a little bit of congratulations is in order
0:25:18 > 0:25:21because it wouldn't have happened, your meeting,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23without that Coronation that day.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday, Ma'am. And many thanks for bringing us together
0:25:30 > 0:25:33and giving us 60 years of happy marriage.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34Thank you. Making me cry!
0:25:36 > 0:25:38You're making me get emotional!
0:25:41 > 0:25:43And they're still going strong -
0:25:43 > 0:25:45just like the Queen and Prince Philip,
0:25:45 > 0:25:49who'll celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary this year.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I'm heading across London now to find out more about another
0:25:59 > 0:26:03enduring love of the Queen's life - corgis, of course!
0:26:04 > 0:26:07She's kept them ever since was a little girl
0:26:07 > 0:26:11and they've been her devoted companions ever since.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14And there's no better place than Battersea to find out
0:26:14 > 0:26:16more about our four-legged friends.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24Battersea Dogs Home is the temporary home to 8,000 abandoned or
0:26:24 > 0:26:27unwanted pets that come here every year.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32Since it first opened in 1860, Battersea found something like
0:26:32 > 0:26:34three million homes for those animals.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37It's also very close to our Queen's heart as she's
0:26:37 > 0:26:39been the patron here for the past 60 years.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43And last year, she opened
0:26:43 > 0:26:45a brand-new kennel block.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Claire Horton was in charge that day.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I'd love to show you, if you'd like to come and have a look round.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55I'm delighted, I really am, and being a dog lover - I've got a golden Labrador at home,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57which was a bit of a rescue dog.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59They make a home, don't they? Oh, completely.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06So, come on, then, how exciting was it having Her Majesty here?
0:27:06 > 0:27:10It was amazing, it was the best day for everyone.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15We had three months of planning, to the most minute detail,
0:27:15 > 0:27:16and everyone was so excited.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21Of course, it was an opportunity for me to get a new outfit, shoes...all very important!
0:27:21 > 0:27:22And who have we got here?
0:27:22 > 0:27:27This is Chewy. Oh, lovely. Hello, Chewy. How are you?
0:27:29 > 0:27:33While Claire and her team were busy preparing, just two days
0:27:33 > 0:27:37before the Queen was due to visit, a rather special dog turned
0:27:37 > 0:27:41up on the Battersea website, which caught the eye of pet lover Sally.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43What were you actually looking for?
0:27:43 > 0:27:45We were looking for a retired dog,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48fairly small dog, because we have a small terraced house.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51And there was a little corgi sitting there called Beamer, and I thought,
0:27:51 > 0:27:52"Well, he looks ever so sweet."
0:27:52 > 0:27:56And, yes, he could live with cats, he can live in the city, and he's older.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00He was 11, so we thought, he sounds ideal.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02And then what happened?
0:28:02 > 0:28:05You got your perfect dog but it didn't all go according to plan?
0:28:05 > 0:28:09No, it didn't, indeed. Went on the website the next day, just to check the details,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12so I could tell them when I ring up, and he'd disappeared.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14He wasn't on the site any more.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Little did Sally know,
0:28:16 > 0:28:20Beamer had been reserved for a royal appointment.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Back in Battersea, the Queen's visit was finally upon them.
0:28:23 > 0:28:29Every dog was standing by to meet the Queen, tails wagging in anticipation.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Can you remember what did you actually do
0:28:31 > 0:28:32for the royal visit?
0:28:33 > 0:28:38So, the Queen and Prince Philip and Prince Michael all arrived here -
0:28:38 > 0:28:39all of the crowds were waiting.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42And they met the Battersea - renowned Battersea -
0:28:42 > 0:28:43doggy guard of honour.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Ooh. And here they all are now.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48This is what you've put on for me today. Absolutely.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50For royalty. For royalty, Ainsley! I feel very royal!
0:28:54 > 0:28:55And then, of course, the Queen came
0:28:55 > 0:28:57through, she met all of these dogs.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02The first thing she did was go and speak to one of the lovely dogs over there and said hello.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04And they were so well behaved. Wonderful.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Everyone was smiling, everyone was beaming,
0:29:07 > 0:29:10and a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for most people - couldn't believe it!
0:29:10 > 0:29:13I must introduce you to Woody, who actually met the Queen.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15And, of course, Milly and Molly.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18It was an amazing experience, obviously this is reliving
0:29:18 > 0:29:20part of that again but this time without the red carpets.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Obviously, the dogs got more of a show than we did,
0:29:23 > 0:29:27but that's understandable, it's what we're here for. Absolutely!
0:29:29 > 0:29:34Hi, guys. You met the Queen, too, yes, you did, I know you did.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39The Queen met everyone from handlers to vets,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and their dogs.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44But they saved the best for last.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Wow.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48And here he is. This is Beamer.
0:29:48 > 0:29:49Hello! Hello.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54Beamer the corgi was waiting patiently for his appointment with the Queen.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56We couldn't believe that he had come in,
0:29:56 > 0:29:58it was absolute genuine coincidence.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01How rare is it that you get corgis in here?
0:30:01 > 0:30:06So rare, we really don't get very many at all, maybe one a year.
0:30:06 > 0:30:07And the timing was perfect,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10he could not have chosen a better day to come,
0:30:10 > 0:30:11because there he was.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Did he sit still? Or was he a little bit anxious?
0:30:16 > 0:30:18He was quite a lot heavier than he is now,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22and so he was less energetic but he was perfectly well behaved.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27Aren't you lucky, you got the royal seal of approval, you lucky boy!
0:30:29 > 0:30:32And a few days after Beamer had performed his royal duty,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Sally was finally able to adopt her Battersea corgi.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Yes, we're talking about you!
0:30:39 > 0:30:41We do often have slightly strange things happen to us,
0:30:41 > 0:30:45and having a dog that met the Queen seemed to fit in with us, yes.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48The most important thing, Sally, is that you got your dog in the end.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50We did, and he's absolutely lovely, we love having him
0:30:50 > 0:30:53and he's happy with us now, he's well settled in.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Settled into the family, including the cats. Including the cats.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Good boy, aren't you, darling?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Do you know, it's so apparent that Her Majesty gains
0:31:02 > 0:31:06so much pleasure from seeing these dogs find new homes
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and we are a nation of dog lovers.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11I'm a dog lover and so is she.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18The Queen has lots in common with us,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21living through the same highs and lows.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25From the Olympic Games to the Second World War,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29when many Londoners felt the impact of the wartime bombings.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Including a very young girl called Elizabeth Hyde.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41It was 1943, during the war, and I got hit by shrapnel,
0:31:41 > 0:31:42and my mother was also hit.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46We was taken across to Lewisham Hospital, where
0:31:46 > 0:31:52the Queen Mother was visiting the hospital at the time during the war.
0:31:52 > 0:31:57She gave me... This is the picture of her when she visited me.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02She gave me two bananas which were brought back by Lord Mountbatten
0:32:02 > 0:32:07for the princesses - and the princess asked her mother to bring them in for the children
0:32:07 > 0:32:08in the hospital.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10She gave me two, one for me,
0:32:10 > 0:32:13and one for my younger sister,
0:32:13 > 0:32:15who didn't particularly like bananas,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19when she tried them, and she's never liked them since!
0:32:21 > 0:32:2465 years later, when the Queen, now grown up,
0:32:24 > 0:32:29came to visit a hospital in Norfolk, Betty got a chance to meet her
0:32:29 > 0:32:31and return the gesture.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33She was quite tickled
0:32:33 > 0:32:35when I gave her the bananas.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37She's got a nice smile, hasn't she?
0:32:38 > 0:32:43She said to me how rare it was to get bananas at that time, which is
0:32:43 > 0:32:45quite true, it was.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50And I just thanked her for sending them in for the children.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53I think the Queen Mother was very much a people's person,
0:32:53 > 0:32:58and I think the Queen is much the same, she's not snobbish.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02I hope she lives a few more years yet - it would be nice
0:33:02 > 0:33:04if she lived as long as her mum.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16With three royal residences in the region, the Queen spends
0:33:16 > 0:33:17a lot of time in the south-east.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21From Norfolk,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25to Dover,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28from the South Downs,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30to Canterbury,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34she's visited so much of this beautiful part of the country.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Just last year, she was at Canterbury Cathedral
0:33:40 > 0:33:42for an historic event
0:33:42 > 0:33:47and was presented with her latest portrait - carved out of stone!
0:33:49 > 0:33:52A great cheer went up from the Cathedral community as
0:33:52 > 0:33:54the statues were unveiled.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58And then Her Majesty said something like - because
0:33:58 > 0:34:02it's very new stone on the old stone - something like,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04"I'm sure we'll soon tone down!"
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Meaning, the statues will age with the stone here.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08And everyone laughed.
0:34:10 > 0:34:11For her long service to the nation,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14the Queen was honoured with this statue
0:34:14 > 0:34:18and the Queen herself takes time to pay tribute to others.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Across the years, the Queen has recognised the extraordinary work
0:34:25 > 0:34:29of her subjects and has awarded hundreds of thousands
0:34:29 > 0:34:33of honours to people who've just done the most incredible work.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41Last year, she set up the Queen's Young Leader Award.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44It's given to exceptional young people across the Commonwealth,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47who are invited to a week of leadership events
0:34:47 > 0:34:49including one at London's BT Tower.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54That's where I'm meeting two exceptional award winners.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58PJ. Hello. How you doing?
0:34:58 > 0:35:02Nkechi, can I give you a kiss? What a pleasure it is...
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Can't I get a kiss? Here we go!
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Get a hug, because what you guys have done has just been amazing.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12'PJ, from Sierra Leone, and Nkechi, from Nigeria,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15'are two of the 60 young winners to be personally
0:35:15 > 0:35:18'commended by the Queen for taking the lead in their communities.'
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Here we are, we're in London, but you did amazing things
0:35:23 > 0:35:27in your own back garden, didn't you? Tell me a little bit about that.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31So, I started the Sickle Cell Aid Foundation with
0:35:31 > 0:35:34a group of young, amazing people in Nigeria.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Sickle-cell anaemia is a life-threatening hereditary blood
0:35:40 > 0:35:43disorder most common in people of African descent.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Across the world, it's thought to affect half a million babies.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52Nkechi's foundation reaches out to
0:35:52 > 0:35:57communities in Nigeria to raise awareness and offer practical help.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01For Nkechi, it's a very personal story.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06My twin sister has sickle-cell disorder, so I watched her
0:36:06 > 0:36:09grow up with it, and I watched what she went through -
0:36:09 > 0:36:10numerous times in hospital,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13being on life support for a long period.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16I see her go through all of this and she's always still positive,
0:36:16 > 0:36:21and always says, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die."
0:36:21 > 0:36:23That in itself inspired me to start this.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28I've got friends who suffer from sickle cell and I just feel why
0:36:28 > 0:36:32haven't we done something, we've been talking about this for too long?
0:36:32 > 0:36:36In Nigeria, trying to find that help is not easy at all,
0:36:36 > 0:36:37it's quite difficult.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40So you meet with these people, you interact with them,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42and the next thing you know, they are no more.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44And you are like, "OK, how do we deal with this?"
0:36:44 > 0:36:45So for us it's a challenge.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Still, it's fantastic what you're doing,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50you've just got to keep that going.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54Tell us about what you've been up to, PJ, another remarkable story.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Thank you.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00So I work for Lifeline Nehemiah Projects and Lifeline Network
0:37:00 > 0:37:04and it was founded by my father originally as a means of rescuing
0:37:04 > 0:37:06child soldiers.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10What he had in his mind was that the young people in
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Sierra Leone would be the ones that need to be invested in to rebuild the nation in years to come.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19PJ has built on the good work his father started.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23His organization now employs those ex-child soldiers
0:37:23 > 0:37:26to lead community projects all across Sierra Leone.
0:37:28 > 0:37:34And to see former child soldiers, who many would say had no hope,
0:37:34 > 0:37:37doing that right now is a remarkable achievement.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43PJ and Nkechi and the other young leaders won a year's mentoring,
0:37:43 > 0:37:48with the cherry on top being the chance to meet Her Majesty herself.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53Everyone was just overwhelmed by it, it really gave us
0:37:53 > 0:37:54that additional boost that we wanted.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57We carry on the work that we do, and you don't imagine
0:37:57 > 0:38:01that you're going to get these kind of opportunities.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Nkechi Azinge, from Nigeria.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13What was it like for you to meet the Queen, then?
0:38:13 > 0:38:15Um, I would say it was an overwhelming experience
0:38:15 > 0:38:18like I was basically blown away!
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Because it was something that I had always thought about
0:38:21 > 0:38:24but I never imagined that I would ever meet her.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26PJ Cole, from Sierra Leone.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29When I was standing there waiting to go and collect the award,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32I'm thinking, "Am I going to trip?"
0:38:36 > 0:38:38PJ and Nkechi didn't leave empty-handed -
0:38:38 > 0:38:41they came away with their own crown jewel!
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Oh, wow - there she is in all her glory.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Yes. Feel proud, you can show your children, your grandchildren, whatever it is.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52And it's her award.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55She created it... She created it. ..for brilliant people like yourselves.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04That was just so, so, inspiring, two young people who
0:39:04 > 0:39:09almost brought me to tears for what they've actually achieved.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13It makes one realise how important the Commonwealth is to us here in
0:39:13 > 0:39:18Britain, and how important it is to our Queen that she recognises that
0:39:18 > 0:39:22they are doing such inspirational work in their countries.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26It's just wonderful, truly wonderful. Long, long may it continue.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35At the age of 90, most of us, if we get that far, would be
0:39:35 > 0:39:38taking life a little bit easier.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42But our Queen is still one of the busiest monarchs in the world.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Nearly 90?! Wow, and she's still in heels?!
0:39:48 > 0:39:51I wish her a very, very happy birthday, Ma-am.
0:39:52 > 0:39:58So we say happy birthday to our Queen. Happy birthday, Queen!
0:39:58 > 0:40:01# Happy birthday to you
0:40:01 > 0:40:03ALL: # Happy birthday to you
0:40:05 > 0:40:08# May God bless you, our Queen
0:40:09 > 0:40:13# Happy birthday to you. #
0:40:13 > 0:40:16We all love you, God bless you.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Wish you a wonderful birthday and many more to come.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25She serves the country and Commonwealth in so many ways,
0:40:25 > 0:40:27but who looks after her?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30I'm on my way to Windsor to meet someone who served Her Majesty
0:40:30 > 0:40:34and her much-loved horses for most of his working life.
0:40:37 > 0:40:38KNOCK ON DOOR
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Michael, how are you? All right.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46For an incredible 47 years,
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Michael Norris has worked with the Queen's stud horses.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52She visited the stud several times a year,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54so they've got to know each other rather well.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Oh, wow. You can't help but notice...
0:40:59 > 0:41:03That was a nice summer's day, the Queen came round to look at the horses.
0:41:03 > 0:41:04If you look at her shoes,
0:41:04 > 0:41:09they've gone a bit yellow cos there was a lot of buttercups in the paddock.
0:41:09 > 0:41:14She looks so relaxed there. Is that her own personal horse there?
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Yes, her own personal, her own riding horse.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19No-one else rode her horse, only the Queen.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27The Queen has grown up loving horses,
0:41:27 > 0:41:32but she has a particular passion for breeding thoroughbreds for racing.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Just how much does the Queen actually love racing?
0:41:36 > 0:41:40It's her life, I think, she just loves it. Loves everything about it.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46We were told that she just has the Racing Post, the only paper she looks at is the Racing Post.
0:41:46 > 0:41:47Really?!
0:41:47 > 0:41:51And there was all of us thinking it's got to be the Telegraph or the Times.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53It's the Racing Post, how wonderful!
0:41:53 > 0:41:54Studying the form.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Studying the form and looking at them.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59She don't carry money, I believe, or have a bet
0:41:59 > 0:42:01but she loves to see them win.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05You can see it in her face -
0:42:05 > 0:42:08she lights up when she's with horses.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Michael was employed by the Queen until he retired 12 years ago
0:42:13 > 0:42:15with some fond memories.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21It used to be lovely, we'd walk around the paddock, the Queen and me,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23just walking round, it was wonderful.
0:42:23 > 0:42:28Two or three hours and nobody knew she was there, even.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33Sure, sure. I talk with people and everyone says, "I just felt so comfortable with her."
0:42:33 > 0:42:35She made you feel you were the only person...
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Yeah, that she was talking to.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40That's the lovely thing about it - not just that,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44you got invited to all the lovely dos, dances at Buckingham Palace.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Was your wife happy about that?
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Oh, yeah, they have to have new outfits, don't they?!
0:42:50 > 0:42:51New outfit and then...
0:42:51 > 0:42:54We do it all the time, you know, like anything at Windsor,
0:42:54 > 0:42:59weddings, even the Queen Mother's funeral, was invited to that.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06It's almost like that personal inside information
0:43:06 > 0:43:07that none of us really know.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10This is the great thing about going round and talking to people
0:43:10 > 0:43:14about Her Majesty, is that special relationship.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16That's it, people don't know, do they?
0:43:16 > 0:43:18No, they don't.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21You don't tell everybody, do you? So...
0:43:21 > 0:43:24When you look back at your life, would you change anything?
0:43:24 > 0:43:27I wouldn't change anything, no, never.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30Loved every minute of it, my job.
0:43:30 > 0:43:34If I died now, I've had a great life working for Her Majesty.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Had the best boss in world, didn't I?
0:43:39 > 0:43:41That's wonderful, thank you.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59Well, I have to say that until today I never quite realised just how
0:43:59 > 0:44:02many people, from so many different walks of life,
0:44:02 > 0:44:03have met our Queen.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06Her words have resonated with them,
0:44:06 > 0:44:08she makes them instantly feel comfortable.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12My mum always said to me, "Ains, she's a special, special lady."
0:44:12 > 0:44:15And, of course, Mum's always right.
0:44:15 > 0:44:20But for today, and my experiences that I've had, she's right.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23She means so much to all of us.