Queen Elizabeth’s ‘More Human Side’ While On Tour Banned From Being Reported

Queen Elizabeth II’s more human and relatable side was banned from being reported by journalists when she embarked on her post-coronation tour in 1953.

Royal author Kitty Kelley, who wrote the book “The Royals,” said that Buckingham Palace didn’t want the more human side of the 12-country tour to be revealed to the public. Kelley quoted royal reporter Gwen Robyns as saying that she wasn’t allowed to report any personal details about Her Majesty.

“When I noticed that the Queen always took her shoes off, which seemed endearing and human, I noted in one of my dispatches: ‘The weary Queen slipped out of her shoes.’ I got a rocket from an editor saying, ‘Lay off the Queen, Buckingham Palace is furious with you,’” Robyns said.

In another article, Robyns wrote about the Queen looking tired. She once again informed by her editor to refrain from reporting about the monarch’s more human side.

Several years ago, Kelley said that Buckingham Palace was sensitive about wanting to portray the young monarch in a very specific and positive light. The Daily Telegraph journalist Maurice Weaver told Kelley that they weren’t allowed to write about anything other than what Her Majesty wore and how she looked.

But according to Kelley, as the royal became more secure in her role as Queen, the palace’s press office also relaxed its rules slightly. The author quoted journalist Phillip Knightly, who was on the first royal tour with the Queen, as saying that there was an unwritten agreement.

“It’s as if the palace said, ‘You need us to bring in your readers, most of whom love royal stories. We need you to tell the Queen’s subjects what she’s up to and what a wonderful person she is so you can write anything you like about the royals – as long as you don’t question the actual institution of the monarchy,” Knightly said.

Her Majesty continues to be the head of the monarchy but she has traveled overseas in years. The Queen has also scaled down her royal duties.