Television presenter Alan Titchmarsh has struck up a rather unlikely friendship with a Royal as he hosted the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on Sunday night.
The Queen and Alan have developed a close bond over the years, as the 73-year-old was part of the hosting party to celebrate her 70-year reign on the throne.
The 96-year-old has admitted she has a soft spot for the gardener, making him perfectly suited for the hosting role, reports the Mirror.
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And before the celebrations began, Alan shared a rather intimate insight into his friendship with The Queen, before he hosted ITV's big celebration extravaganza.
He said: "I've been lucky enough to meet Her Majesty many times both formally and informally and have sat next to her at lunch on a couple of occasions where I enjoyed wide-ranging conversations.
"I treasure the MBE that Her Majesty pinned on me in the Millennium New Year Honours and also the remark she made as she shook my hand."
Alan added: "I had talked to the Sandringham Women's Institute a few weeks before my investiture and The Queen, as a member, was in the audience. It seemed to go down well and The Queen laughed in all the right places.
"As she shook my hand at the investiture she said: 'Well, you give a lot of ladies a lot of pleasure.' I am still smiling."
Alan first met Her Majesty and late husband Prince Phillip at the Chelsea Flower Show, as he presented TV coverage of the event, and also struck up a friendship with her son Prince Charles not long after.
During an interview with the Mirror in 2020, he reminisced a day at Westminster Abbey that was "very special" to him.
Alan said at the time: "I’d approached Westminster Abbey about possibly erecting a plaque in honour of Lancelot Brown, one of Britain’s finest landscapers.
"Here in the gallery room, the Prince of Wales commented that my tie was the same colour as the Queen’s suit.
"I made a joke and said I’d called ahead and discussed it with her, and that’s what we’re having a chuckle about.
"Moments like this I’m always waiting for someone to say, ‘You’re not supposed to be here!’."
He added: "So I’m lucky I’ve always had such stimulating experiences. As for the kids, they don’t care. ‘Oh, it’s just Dad!’ is all they say."
In June, the jubilee will bring a host of festivities to honour the Queen, who became the longest-serving British monarch ever in February, notching up 70 loyal and tireless years on the throne.
