The Queen's genius trick she uses when she meets the public

The Queen, The Queen's genius trick
(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen is said to use a special two-word technique to boost her memory ahead of royal engagements and it's genius!

The Queen reportedly has a special way of remembering who it is she is greeting and it's all thanks to two-words.

Her Majesty meets hundreds of people each year and preparing for a greeting that will put her guests at ease is far from tricky as she has devised a simple but genius trick to remind her of the information she needs.

There's nothing worse than meeting someone and then not knowing anything about them or forgetting the exact detail, so the Queen is understood to use a two-word technique that helps her remember the key information.

And as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee year, marking 70 years since she came to the throne, she will have to prepare for the multiple engagements ahead but her trusted method of remembering what she needs to know will put her in good stead.

Author Julia Donaldson, who wrote one of the best children’s books The Gruffalo, was appointed a CBE at the Queen’s honours and she has spilled the secret to the Queen's successful greetings.

Speaking about the Queen's genius trick, in an interview to Whimn, Ms Donaldson shared, “I was told the Queen goes through the potted biographies with a yellow marker and just two words get highlighted. So when you get called up the equerry shows her the words. I did my little curtsey and she said, ‘Oh, so you’re a writer. You’re very popular…’

"I went off thinking ‘writer/popular…’ those must have been my two words.”

Julia Donaldson

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Author and playwright Julia Donaldson after she was awarded an MBE for her services to literature by Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on October 12, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA/Getty Images)

The Queen, 95, will meet around 75 people for every CBE ceremony so it can be tricky to ensure everyone is made to feel special but her personalised greetings and the subtle way she learns them is key to upholding her standards while adding an extra personal touch to every interaction.

And it also helps to put her guests at ease when they realise she knows who they are and can hold a conversation with them.

Princess Anne carried out the Queen's honours recently as she has been doing fewer engagements following her Covid illness recovery.

A photo posted by on

And it's likely that Princess Anne would use the Queen's genius trick ahead of her official engagements too.

Why not give it a go yourself, it might help in awkward social situations!

Selina Maycock
Senior Family Writer

Selina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism, and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, and Woman's Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz - and the Scunthorpe Telegraph. When she's not covering family news, you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories (including award-winning scarecrows!)