A Welsh rugby legend claimed to have upset the Queen with an attempt at humour.
In his book, former Wales and Lions centre Steve Fenwick told the story of how a joke to the monarch - who passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday - had left him fearing "spending a night in the Tower of London" and a trip to the gallows. The attempted joke came before an exhibition match to celebrate the Welsh Rugby Union’s Centenary – Wales & England v Scotland & Ireland – in 1980.
Fenwick captained the Wales & England team, meaning it fell to him to greet the Queen and introduce her to his team-mates.
Writing in his book 'Dragons and Lions', Fenwick said: “I was selected to captain the Wales & England team. With the Queen and Prince Phillip attending as honorary guests of the WRU, my role meant that I was to greet Queen Elizabeth and introduce her to the players.
“I was told that when addressing the Queen I was to call her Ma’am, but apart from that I wasn’t given any other real instructions. That was a recipe for disaster.
“I stood on the pitch at the head of my team, all lined up wearing the specially produced red and white quartered shirt, waiting nervously for the Queen to walk out to meet us.”
“’You must be very proud to be captain of this Wales and England team,’ the Queen said. ‘Extremely, Ma’am,’ I replied. ‘We don’t normally mix with the English, but we will give it a go. We will make an exception for today.’
“My attempt at gentle rugby humour didn’t have quite the response I was expecting. If looks could kill I’d have been spending the night in the Tower of London before being taken to the gallows.
“The Queen looked at me in livid astonishment, walked off and never spoke to me again that day.
“Nantgarw banter and royalty don’t mix.”
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