Ben Summerskill, society editor
Sunday April 7, 2002
The Observer
Prince William and Prince Harry have given a remarkable interview to mark the death of their great-grandmother last weekend. In it, the young princes furnish a picture of the Queen Mother entirely at odds with her formal public image as guardian of the 'mystique' of monarchy - and a closet fan of Ali G.
Two Christmases ago, William said, 'we were sitting down watching Ali G on TV. We were laughing when she came in. She couldn't understand what was going on, so we explained to her.
'She saw Ali G click his fingers and say "Respec", and Harry and I showed her what to do. After three goes she had it. Later that day, we were all in the dining room, having Christmas lunch, when she tried it out.'
His brother Harry, who is currently on holiday from Eton, said: 'It was the end of the meal, and she stood up and said, "Darling, lunch was marvellous - respec", and clicked her fingers.'
Apparently the whole royal family, including the Queen, burst out laughing.
The princes paid lavish tribute to the Queen Mother's sense of humour - about which Prince Charles had already spoken fondly earlier last week.
'Anything that was meant to be formal and went wrong, she enjoyed,' recalled William. 'She laughed herself stupid about it. It kept us all sane.'
Sunday April 7, 2002
The Observer
Prince William and Prince Harry have given a remarkable interview to mark the death of their great-grandmother last weekend. In it, the young princes furnish a picture of the Queen Mother entirely at odds with her formal public image as guardian of the 'mystique' of monarchy - and a closet fan of Ali G.
Two Christmases ago, William said, 'we were sitting down watching Ali G on TV. We were laughing when she came in. She couldn't understand what was going on, so we explained to her.
'She saw Ali G click his fingers and say "Respec", and Harry and I showed her what to do. After three goes she had it. Later that day, we were all in the dining room, having Christmas lunch, when she tried it out.'
His brother Harry, who is currently on holiday from Eton, said: 'It was the end of the meal, and she stood up and said, "Darling, lunch was marvellous - respec", and clicked her fingers.'
Apparently the whole royal family, including the Queen, burst out laughing.
The princes paid lavish tribute to the Queen Mother's sense of humour - about which Prince Charles had already spoken fondly earlier last week.
'Anything that was meant to be formal and went wrong, she enjoyed,' recalled William. 'She laughed herself stupid about it. It kept us all sane.'
