At 80, Sir Paul McCartney is rather sparing with his postings on social media channels. Last Friday (September 9th) he made an exception in a lengthy Facebook statement. After all, it was also about saying goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II.
McCartney recalls “eight or nine” meetings with his queen. He rummaged in the archive and also shared the corresponding photos.
“I entered an essay competition in Liverpool when I was 10 and won my section for my essay on the British monarchy, so I’ve been a long-time fan,” he wrote of an early crush on the Windsors.
As a songwriter, Macca famously composed the 26-second love song “Her Majesty” for the Beatles. He also recalled how “she struck me with her great sense of humor combined with great dignity.”
The two first met in 1965 when the Beatles were awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. “We were taken aside back then and the correct protocol was impressed on us. We were told how to approach Her Majesty – and that under no circumstances should we speak to her unless she has spoken to us first. For four lads from Liverpool it was quite a WOW! How did we end up here…”
In chronological order, Macca continues to review his royal meetings:
The next time was in 1982 at the Royal Albert Hall. An event called “An Evening for Conservation” that my Linda (his deceased wife, editor’s note.) and I participated. That night some orchestral tracks from Beatles songs were played. I spoke to Her Majesty about it. She, in turn, introduced me to Prince Philip, who remembered our earlier meeting in the 1960s.”
A decade and a half later, the Queen opened the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a northern English art pop academy (see article photo). “The old school that George Harrison and I went to was on the institute campus.”
A year later, the Queen knighted Sir Paul, which Macca described as “a very proud day for me” and “one of the best days ever”.
“I felt very honored to be offered knighthood. It would have been completely impolite to refuse them! I remember it was spring and the sky was blue. It was a wonderful day. I realized I’ve come a long way from a tiny terraced house in Liverpool!”
Almost familiar by now, McCartneey made a slightly flippant remark at the Queen’s Golden Throne Jubilee in 2002. As the Queen took the stage at the end of the show and received a thunderous round of applause, he joked:
“I assume that will happen again next year?” to which she replied wittily: ‘Not in my garden it won’t!’”