The Queen indulged in a bit of uncommonly common browsing, as she and her husband paid a visit to Romford Market in Essex this week.
Her Majesty seemed particularly interested in some bargain-priced children's clothes while Prince Philip was fascinated by local trader Harry Crosby's jellied eels. And the monarch didn't go home empty handed as one enthusiastic stallholder gave her a Union Jack hat filled with boiled sweets. She handed the gift to an aide for safekeeping, telling him: "Don't eat them all before we get back."
Her visit came after local schoolboy George Barlow wrote to the monarch to say how much locals would appreciate her coming. In his letter the 14-year-old explained how disappointed the people of Romford had been after the Queen missed them on her Golden Jubilee tour.
Prince Philip's comment when the Royal couple met George, left the youngster rather bemused, however. "So you're the one who wrote the letter. So you can write then can you?" asked the Duke. George confessed to feeling a little surprised by the remark, admitting: "I was a bit put out that he might think I was stupid."
The trip is being regarded as further evidence of Her Royal Highness' increasing willingness to let her hair down. On Tuesday evening the 76-year-old even went clubbing in London's fashionable Mayfair. She was attending a birthday celebration for her best friend, the Countess of Airlie, in Annabel's nightclub.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
