Although not much is known about what happens within the walls of Buckingham Palace, royal insiders have shared a rare glimpse into what life is like living with the Queen.
After the death of the Queen’s long-serving staff member, Peggy Hoath, palace insiders affectionately spilled on their fond memories from inside the palace.
As loved ones and formers colleagues gathered to mourn the Queen’s assistant dresser at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park, one reminisced about the time Peggy got into a row with another staff member, and was so loud that it woke the queen.
“Peggy had a friendly rivalry with another dresser called May Prentice and they were always vying for the Queen’s attention and arguing among themselves,” they said according to the Daily Mail.
They recalled one time the Queen turned up unexpectedly in the Page’s Vestibule [an ante-chamber for staff] at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
“No-one could believe their eyes when she arrived in her nightie wrapped in her bedclothes and blanket. She just said, ‘I’ve got to get some sleep,’ and settled down on the sofa.”
They continued: “Apparently Peggy and May had been arguing at the top of their voices in a nearby room and the Queen just couldn’t get to sleep. Rather than interrupt them she got up and moved to the Page’s room. She was very fond of Peggy and obviously couldn’t bring herself to criticise her.
“Everyone just looked at each other and shuffled out of the room to let the Queen sleep.”
Peggy passed away last December at the age of 89.
She started working for Queen Elizabeth in 1959 and remained by her side for 35 years.