Over the five decades of her reign, the Queen has found herself confronting some bizarre situations. And, on the island of Jersey last week, the monarch was presented with a strange present – a pair of dead ducks.
The gift is all part of a tradition that dates back 800 years, when the Seigneur of Trinity was expected to pay homage to the Duke of Normandy – William the Conqueror’s original title before he crossed the channel in search of victory – and was revived by Steve Morgan, the new seigneur, who bought the title.
The property developer, a resident of the island, knelt on a red velvet stool in front of a bemused-looking Queen, making the presentation in French as the Duke of Edinburgh roared with laughter. The birds were later returned to Steve, and were expected to be served up for dinner.
The dead mallards, imported from France as ducks are a protected species on the channel isle, were not the only gift that Her Majesty was due to receive, but the presentation of a Jersey cow had to be put off because of the foot and mouth outbreak.
In a separate development, the Queen has complied with employment laws, and has drawn up a 97-page handbook to be distributed to her 777 workers, laying out what they can and can’t do in the royal residences. And she has shown herself to be very relaxed with some of the rules. Staff can play golf on the two royal courses – Home Park Windsor, and Balmoral – as well as getting free tickets for sporting events. Tickets for the Queen’s Box at the Twickenham Rugby ground are available to them for just £2.50.
Staff have free access to the tennis courts from 2pm in the week and 9:30am at the weekend, but only if the Queen is away. They are also allowed to stroll in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in the evenings.
But the booklet also tells the palace workers where they can’t go. “It is important employees avoid walking through the State Apartments and other areas, indoors and outside, frequently used by the Royal Family.” At Buckingham Palace the Principal Corridor, Nursery Floor, Chamber Floor, State Apartments, Marble Hall and Garden Entrance are out of bounds.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
