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Why the Queen was forced to swap her Bentley for Royal Philatelic Society visit

The monarch was on good form

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
November 26, 2019
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The Queen always knows how to make an entrance, but there was something different about her arrival to her engagement on Tuesday. The 93-year-old monarch visited the Royal Philatelic Society's new headquarters in the City of London to mark its 150th anniversary, but was forced to ditch her usual mode of transport.

WATCH: The Queen opens The Royal Philatelic Society's new HQ

Her Majesty arrived at the building in Abchurch Lane, London in a Range Rover, not her official Bentley, as the road was too narrow for her normal vehicle to squeeze down. The Queen, dressed in a sea green coat, trimmed with velvet and a matching hat by Angela Kelly, came face to face with herself, as she was shown a display of philatelic artefacts, including a collection of stamps spanning five monarchs from Queen Victoria to herself.

READ: Why the Queen may have to delay her Christmas in Sandringham this year

queen range rover© Photo: PA

The Queen travelled in a Range Rover, instead of her official Bentley

The monarch was on good form, as she was shown correspondence between her grandfather King George V and leading figures from the Royal Philatelic Society during her tour. The Queen's grandfather was a renowned stamp collector, who had an extensive number of stamps and was said to be very knowledgeable about the subject.

The Queen's visit comes less than a week after her second son Prince Andrew announced he was stepping down from royal duties, following his BBC Newsnight interview, which focused on his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

MORE: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi spotted visiting Prince Andrew

queen stamps© Photo: Getty Images

The Queen views a stamp collection of five different monarchs

Meanwhile, the monarch's Christmas plans could also be disrupted this year, after 10 Downing Street announced that if Boris Johnson remains as Prime Minister, following the election on 12 December, the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's speech will take place on 19 December. 

The head of state usually travels to Sandringham by train on the Thursday before Christmas Day, but the Queen may have to alter her plans slightly. If there is a change of government, the ceremony and speech will not take place until January 2020.

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