Queen Elizabeth Makes Guests Giggle While Cutting Cake at Surprise Reception

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee with a surprise reception at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

The 95-year-old monarch, who will mark 70 years on the throne on Sunday, February 6, hosted the largest in-person public engagement she has attended since her recent health scare.

The event was held to celebrate her milestone and was attended by members of the local community.

The Queen appeared in sparkling form, wearing a Wedgwood blue crepe with white brocade dress, carrying her trademark black handbag and a wooden walking stick.

When Her Majesty arrived, guests were seated around tables waiting for tea to be served.

They stood up respectfully to chat with the Queen.

During the celebration, the Queen was presented with a locally baked cake and a large knife to cut the first slice.

She made guests giggle when she joked, “I think I might just put the knife in it.”

Her Majesty then quipped, “Someone else can do the rest.”

Before cutting the first slice, the monarch joked about how the decorative emblem on the cake was the wrong way for her, so it could be seen by the press.

Among the guests were members of the Sandringham branch of the Women's Institute, Sandringham Estate pensioners, and representatives of two local charities, West Norfolk Befriending and The Little Discoverers.

Yvonne Brown, vice president and chairman of the Sandringham Women's Institute, described the Queen as being on sparkling form, joking and laughing with her guests at the reception.

The monarch also met former Cookery School student Angela Wood, who helped to perfect the famous dish, Coronation Chicken, served to the guests after the Queen's 1953 coronation ceremony.

Commenting on how the recipe for Coronation Chicken has likely developed over the years, the Queen told Angela Wood, “It's probably changed because in those days we did some things quite differently.”

Sean Mason, a junior sous chef, had created tiny bite-sized morsels of Coronation Chicken, chicken with curry spices, apricot in a savoury tartlet, and he carried a tray of his creations into the ballroom and announced they were available to sample.

As the morsels were placed between the Queen and Mrs Wood to try, the room erupted with laughter when the Queen quipped, “I'll go away.

You can tell me what you think when I come back.”

Another guest, Mr Harry Humphrey, the mayor of Kings Lynn, presented the Queen with a loyal address and platinum jubilee mosaic created by school children from across West Norfolk.

Near the end of the reception, the Queen stopped to chat to a group of former Sandringham estate workers and told them, “I haven't seen you for a very long time.”

Reminiscing about the devastating floods in 1953 that affected Norfolk and the surrounding counties, she said, “I remember sitting at dinner, the fire alarm went off, no fire, the sea was coming in.”

When leaving the event, Her Majesty received a posy which included flowers that formed part of the Queen's coronation bouquet in 1953, such as Lily of the Valley.

The reception came the day before Sunday's accession day, when the Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

She is already the nation's longest reigning monarch and the longest still-serving sovereign in the world.

The event was the largest in-person public engagement the Queen had attended since last October's Windsor Castle reception for delegates who had attended the government's Global Investment Summit earlier that day.

A few days later, concerns for the Queen's health were raised as she pulled out of a trip to Northern Ireland, spent a night in hospital, and was ordered to rest by doctors who later advised her to carry out only light duties.

In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee with a surprise reception at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

The event was attended by members of the local community, and the Queen was presented with a locally baked cake and a large knife to cut the first slice.

Her Majesty made guests giggle with her jokes and quips throughout the celebration.

The event was the largest in-person public engagement the Queen had attended since her recent health scare, and it was held to celebrate her milestone.