Monarch reads late Queen’s diary, recalling night she joined public festivities in disguise
King Charles paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a touching moment during the 80th anniversary VE Day concert in London, by sharing a rarely heard diary entry from her youth.
Speaking from Horse Guards Parade, the King read from the Queen’s personal account of May 1945, when 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth slipped out of Buckingham Palace in disguise with Princess Margaret to join jubilant crowds celebrating the end of World War II in Europe.
“The rejoicing continued into the next day,” Charles read, quoting her words: “Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!”
The Queen had previously spoken of that unforgettable night, recalling how she and her sister were “swept along on a tide of happiness and relief” as they mingled anonymously with fellow Londoners.
The King’s light-hearted remark—"I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2 a.m., let alone lead you all in a giant conga"—sparked laughter from the crowd, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Among those who once claimed to have danced with the future Queen that night was Ronald Thomas, a teen who resembled Prince Philip and kept the memory secret for decades. His family expressed joy at the public acknowledgment of the story.
