Encounters with Royalty: Behind the Scenes with Famous Figures

While many people see royalty as figures distant and unapproachable, personal encounters with these well-known individuals reveal a more human side. From a chat with Prince Charles in Switzerland to meeting the Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester at a gathering, these experiences highlight the relatability and friendliness of royalty.

Meetings with Distinguished Guests

In a charming conversation, I spent an enjoyable time chatting with Prince Charles in Switzerland. He was pleasantly engaging and well-informed about global affairs. His ease and charm made the discussion a delight.

My other memorable encounter involved meeting some of the many Saudi princes. Living in the college dorm during my studies, I shared space with a prince. His private suite included a two-bedroom apartment, with his bodyguard residing in the second room. This experience emphasized the vast size of the Saudi royal family, which has around 15,000 members including 4,000 princes. In contrast, the entire country only has 12,000 restaurants, suggesting that there are indeed more royals than restaurants in the kingdom.

Refreshing Reactions and Etiquette

Having interacted with numerous famous personalities, I'm no stranger to the presence of royalty. I face these encounters with equanimity as they are, after all, just individuals who, like anyone else, need to use the bathroom, burp, and even snore. This realization has made my interactions with these figures more relaxed and enjoyable.

During a visit to my country, I had the great fortune of meeting Her Majesty. The experience was humbling and an incredible honor. Unlike some events, this visit was remarkably low-key, with the royal Bentley arriving unannounced much like a normal car from the British public.

Similarly, I have interacted with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, second cousins to the late Queen. Despite their high-profile roles, they were genuinely pleasant and personable. They stayed at the gathering for over two hours and the Duchess spent over half an hour chatting with my table before we moved on to a memorial service for the cruiser HMS Gloucester, which was sunk in WW2, unlike the more recent destroyer.

Private Encounters with Distinguished Individuals

Personal interactions with members of the royal family highlight the human qualities often overshadowed by their status. The Duke of Edinburgh at the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 was simply lovely. As a seagoing officer, he might have shown a more informal, easy-going side with individuals like myself. His friendly demeanor made him an excellent companion, and his superb character was widely admired.

Local Royal Relations

Unlike some of my colleagues, I don't need to travel abroad to meet royalty as they reside locally. My family and I have interacted with our own royal family on numerous occasions, with thousands of people doing the same every year. These encounters remind us that royal figures are not untouchable but rather accessible individuals with a range of duties and interests. I have also met foreign royalty in the UK and abroad, like the Raja Muda di Selangor Darul Ehsan of Malaysia, during our sailing endeavors.

As these personal encounters show, royal figures are not just distant, ceremonial figures. They are relatable, human beings with a range of personal and professional interactions that make them approachable and admirable. These interactions serve to humanize royalty and bring them closer to the people they serve.