Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The below is from a article published in The Australian Women's Weekly 1944 from a letter written from my Granduncle Graeme to his Mother.


Airmen talk with Queen at concert Captivated by her charm

Queen Elizabeth's charm and graciousness completely captivated an Australian airman who met her and the Princesses. With another member of the R.A.A.F. he was sitting in the King's box for one of Sir Henry Wood's concerts at the Albert Hall, and the Queen talked to them both.

F/Sgt. Graeme Miller writes enthusiastically about this meeting with the Royal Family to his mother, Mrs. B. Miller, 71 Brighton St., Croydon, N.S.W.

ALTHOUGH it's 1 a.m., I won't be able to sleep till I get this off my chest, so here goes! The point is that your youngest son has shaken hands with Royalty, so I'll tell you all about it.

"Once again I was given a couple of tickets for Sir Henry Wood's concert at the Albert Hall, and was put into the King's box. "We had no idea (my pilot pal and myself) that anybody of note was coming, and when the orchestra played the National Anthem I stood to attention, and sensing someone next to me, took a quick glance, and there was Queen Elizabeth with the two Princesses.

"You can imagine how I felt! The Queen shook hands with both of us, and said, 'How nice for you to be able to come along.' "We stammered out some reply, and then, as the audience were clapping like mad, the Queen turned round and acknowledged the applause. "As soon as it quietened down and the Princesses ranged up on either side, the Queen turned round and said, 'It should be a good concert, and I hope you enjoy it.' She then asked which State we came from, and we went on to discuss old Sir Henry Wood, who has just turned 75.

"Every time the music stopped the Queen turned round and spoke to us. She is absolutely beautiful, much more so than her pictures show. "There were a couple of Canadian officers in the box with us, and the Queen stopped to have an odd word with them, but as Max and I were sitting directly behind the Royal party most of the conversation was with us.

"The concert finished, and once more the Queen shook hands with us. wished us good luck, and said. 'I'm so happy that you were able to come along, and left us treading on air. "The Princesses are very pretty and quite natural, but the Queen is so beautiful and charming that I had my breath taken away. I managed to snaffle her programme, and that will be stored away with many of my other treasures.

"I guess I'd better try to get some sleep, as Jerry hasn't been over yet, but we expect him any time now. Hope you feel as excited about this as I do."