Queen Elizabeth’s Witty Remark on Boris Johnson and Behind-the-Scenes Royal Tensions
A new book has made a surprising claim that the late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly quipped, “At least I won’t have that idiot organizing my funeral now,” after accepting Boris Johnson’s resignation as prime minister, according to the Express. According to Tim Shipman, author of Out, a political history of Brexit, the Queen made the comment “to amuse” her family and closest aides at Balmoral, just two days before her passing. This remark, allegedly made with a hint of mischief in her eye, reflects a lighter moment in what were her final days.
The Queen’s last official act had been to appoint Liz Truss as her 15th prime minister, a symbolic close to her historic reign. Shipman’s book also includes claims that the Queen thought Boris Johnson was “perhaps better suited to the stage,” adding to the notion that she saw him as a “roguish and comic figure.” However, sources close to the Queen have expressed doubts, saying such words seemed uncharacteristic of her, especially given that the Earl Marshal, rather than the prime minister, traditionally oversees royal funerals.
Shipman also details “undiluted fury among senior members of the royal family and courtiers” over Johnson’s 2019 decision to prorogue Parliament, a move that stirred controversy across the UK. Yet, according to Shipman, the Queen reacted more calmly than many of her advisors, reportedly viewing Johnson’s behavior as, “These things happen.”
While the Queen seemed to take Johnson’s actions in stride, other royals, including the then-Prince of Wales, were reportedly less forgiving. Shipman claims that Prince Charles, now King Charles III, was “absolutely furious” at the disrespect Johnson’s actions implied toward the Queen. Prince William’s aides also reportedly signaled that during his future reign, there would be “more private, robust challenging of advice” between the monarch and the prime minister.
The book also describes an alleged exchange between Johnson and the then-Prince Charles regarding the sensitive issue of slavery. Charles reportedly wanted to acknowledge slavery at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, but Johnson, wary of “woke” ideology, supposedly advised against it, jokingly warning, “I wouldn’t talk about slavery if I were you, or you’ll end up having to sell the Duchy of Cornwall to pay reparations”, reported by the Daily Mail.
While Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on Shipman’s claims, these anecdotes paint a nuanced picture of the royal family’s interactions with Johnson and their reactions to his controversial political maneuvers. Whether lighthearted or filled with frustration, Shipman’s revelations suggest that Johnson left a lasting impression on the monarchy, one that reflects both respect for tradition and a desire for change in royal-state relations.