It’s easy to put your foot in it around royalty. Protocols are strict, blunders almost inevitable.
Former Press & Journal reporter Tom Mackay has been looking back half a century, when he witnessed first-hand a royal boo-boo committed by one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s own ladies-in-waiting.
Tom had taken his wife Jean and young daughter Marcelynne off to Brisbane some years earlier to start a new life Down Under.
He became a reporter on the Brisbane Mail, after six years as industrial correspondent for the Evening Express.
By 1973, he was working in Sydney as a news journalist for ABC network.
The Sydney Opera House was complete, and ready for opening by Queen Elizabeth II.
Tom sets the scene: “An armada of yachts and small boats rocked and bobbed in a strong wind.
“The fleet was one thousand strong while half a million people lined the Sydney Harbour shore line jostling for the best vantage points as Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed for the official opening of one of the architectural masterpieces of the 20th Century.
“There were marching bands, processions, people in national costumes, 60,000 balloons, thousand white doves and pigeons and a large helicopter fly-past.”
The wind was causing quite a problem that day, not least for the royal apparel.
Tom went on: “The wind tugged fiercely at the Queen’s dress as she moved to the outdoor dais to deliver her speech. She had a touch balancing act as her speech notes and hat looked likely to blow into the choppy waters of Sydney Harbour.”
Tom’s job that day was to direct the TV broadcast team covering the royal party’s tour inside the Opera House.
Space was limited, but ABC was the only team allowed to follow the royals close up.
The resulting film would be distributed to TV stations around the world.
A lot was riding on it.
Tom said: “I joined a small group of dignitaries, security officers and members of the royal staff making their way on this the final stage of the opening ceremony.
“Her Majesty looked relieved to be indoors away from the gale blowing outside.
“We had walked a short distance when the regal procession came to a sudden halt.
“A lady-in-waiting had stepped out from the sidelines to stop the proceedings.
Alarm
“Her Majesty, a few steps ahead of me, turned round looking bemused.
“The security guards looked alarmed.
“What was the problem? Had a significant incident occurred up ahead that threatened the royal walk on this momentous day?”
Much collective breath was held, before the answer became apparent.
“The lady-in-waiting walked right up to the Queen. ‘Ma’am’, she declared. ‘Your hat is askew.’
Consternation
“No one moved. There was consternation in the ranks.
“We watched in silence as the monarch glared at her staff member by now standing under a spotlight, centre stage.
“The Queen drew back her shoulders.
“Then in a clear voice she declared: “When I need advice from you on whether or not my hat is askew, I shall ask for it.”
“That was it.
“The staffer bowed and retreated to the sidelines.
“Her Majesty regained her composure and waved a hand signalling that the tour should resume.
“She made no adjustment to the regal hat.”
Tom glanced over at his camera man, to see that he was out of range and had missed the exchange, perhaps fortunately.
But Tom was left ruminating about the incident.
“Had the Queen’s reaction been too harsh? Had her staff member erred in halting the proceedings in such a public way?
Not a good look
“The fact was Her Majesty’s hat had indeed shifted in the face of the wind that earlier had blown strongly as she delivered her speech on the Opera House steps.
“It had moved sufficiently for her servant to step in and indicate that it was not a good look, particularly when vision of the event was being beamed to millions around the world.
“The fact that her hat may have been out of kilter on a blustery day in Sydney town would probably have been the least of the Queen’s worries.”
He was not out of the royal woods yet.
A few days later he was invited to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at a reception for the media, and after uncharacteristic stage fright among the press corps, Tom found himself talking to Queen Elizabeth.
She found out that he had formerly worked near Aberdeen for the Press & Journal, and was gratified with the response: “Oh the Journal is one of my favourite newspapers. I make a point of reading it every day when I am residing at Balmoral.”
Album of Journals photos
She asked Tom to send her regards to the P&J’s late picture editor Ian Hardie, saying: “He is a wonderful person. Every year he sends me an album of photographs taken by Journal staff members during the year.
“They are a splendid record of our lovely times in Scotland.”
Needless to say this went down very well with Ian and his editor at the P&J when word got back.
“How sad,” Tom concludes, “that the Highlands and Balmoral where she spent so many happy times will not see her like again.”
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