Australian cricket legend Dennis Lillee once tried to get Queen Elizabeth’s autograph but royal protocol meant she couldn’t deliver - but Her Majesty sensationally sent him a signed photo of the moment.
Buckingham Palace announced the tragic death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday evening, confirming she died peacefully at Balmoral Castle. She died aged 96, ending the longest reign by any monarch in British history.
After a lifetime of public service, tales are surfacing highlighting her human nature and kindness. One such story is when she met fast bowler Lillee ahead of the Centenary Test of 1977 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Lillee broke protocol upon meeting Her Majesty as he requested an autograph and even held out a pen and item to sign. However, the Queen was forced to reject only to later surprise the Aussie with a gift.
“It happened during the Melbourne Centenary Test and her reply was to the effect that she couldn't do it in front of all the people at the ground and watching on television because she would be stopped and asked wherever she went,” Lillee said in his autobiography. “I asked because she was the ultimate hero to me, she was 'our' Queen.
“I had thought about it and took something out for her to sign. I understood her explanation and forgot all about it until a week or so later when an aide-de-camp from the Palace got in touch and asked me for my address as the Queen wanted to send me a signed photograph.
“You could have picked me up off the floor and the picture takes pride of place in my house, the only memorabilia displayed apart from a few things in my office. It's a picture of me being introduced to the Queen at the very moment I was asking for her autograph, and it's signed 'Elizabeth R, 1977’.
“You can imagine how chuffed I was. I had probably embarrassed her and all the cricket officials but, at the time, I could not see the reason not to ask. People asked me for my autograph and I signed; at least, that was my logic. Maybe I was getting to know why the hierarchy didn't like me so much.”
Queen Elizabeth was the head of state of the UK and 14 other countries, including Canada, Jamaica and Lillee’s Australia. He added: “I met Her Majesty again at the Test match in England in 1981 but this time I refrained from any special requests! From that occasion, there is a jolly picture of us having a laugh but I can reveal it was not over the autograph incident.”
