She's ridden since the age of three and is a passionate horse breeder and owner, so it's no wonder that the Queen has spot-on prediction skills when it comes to horse racing. Homeland star Damian Lewis revealed on Tuesday that Her Majesty, who rarely bets herself, gave him a "simply fantastic tip" for Ascot.
The actor and the 89-year-old monarch joined Prince Charles in touring one of the Prince's Trust centres in Kennington, south London to mark the charity's 40th anniversary. Damian was attending with his wife Helen McCrory in their role as Prince's Trust ambassadors.
The group last met in April 2013 when the Queen was awarded an honorary BAFTA at Windsor Castle.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Queen gave Damian Lewis and his wife Helen McCrory horse-racing tips
"You gave me a simply fantastic tip for Royal Ascot for which I am grateful," Damian, 45, told the Queen.
His wife Helen told reporters: "The last time we were lucky enough to meet Her Majesty was actually the evening she received her Bafta – something that both of us are still waiting for. And she very kindly gave us a tip for Ascot which came up."
Damian added: "I asked for the Grand National because that's the only time we're there and she said 'No, no, no, that's miles away – you need tips for Royal Ascot first.' She gave me a tip for Royal Ascot and it came with a royal seal."
While the actor, who has an OBE, could not remember the name of the horse, he did joke about the amount they won saying: "It was enough for a weekly shop."
© Photo: Getty Images"You gave me a simply fantastic tip for Royal Ascot for which I am grateful," the actor told Her Majesty
During the engagement the Queen looked regal in a royal blue coat by Angela Kelly and a matching hat. The royal and Prince Charles met youngsters who are receiving help in turning their lives around, and entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses with the help of Charles' charity.
Peter Higgs, who had a bee colony to show off the bee rescue service he set up, pointed out the queen bee to Her Majesty. "She's the one with the white dot," he said.
"It must be rather fascinating," replied the monarch.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Queen and Prince Charles were celebrating the Prince's Trust 40th anniversary
The royals also met 16-year-old Jaquaine Goodison, who has been on a personal development course with the trust.
"Before I was not a good guy," he said. "I was always getting into trouble. I was in a court case, and the court sent me to the programme. Now I've stopped hanging around with people, and started learning. I'm planning on getting a job. It has turned my life around. I would like to have my own company designing clothes."
The trust helps people aged between 13 and 30 get into education and employment. Over the past four decades it has helped more than 825,000 young people; it supports 59,000 people a year.
