The Queen’s cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, has revealed that Her Majesty is a “fantastic dancer” and loves songs by artists including Vera Lynn and Gary Barlow.
The news comes just before a new documentary will air on Sunday called Our Queen: 90 Musical Years’on BBC Radio 2.
Speaking on the programme, Lady Elizabeth said: “We did a lot of singing at Kensington Palace.
“Nobody thought it was odd after dinner if we put on a record and all sang Doing The Lambeth Walk, so music has always been part of her life.
“The Queen loves the theatre and musicals like Showboat, Oklahoma! and Annie Get Your Gun.
“The Queen is a fantastic dancer. She’s got great rhythm.”
The new Radio 2 programme featured contributions from the monarch’s friends and relatives who discuss why music has been a big part of the monarch’s life.
The 90-year-old reportedly shocked her courtiers with her love of popularist performers.
The Queen’s favourite songs:
- Oklahoma! by Howard Keel
- Anything You Can Do (Annie Get Your Gun) by Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson
- Sing by Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band featuring the Military Wives
- Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire
- The White Cliffs Of Dover by Vera Lynn
- Leaning on a Lamp-post by George Formby
- Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven (hymn)
- The Lord is My Shepherd (hymn)
- Lester Lanin Medley
- Regimental March Milanollo
The Queen was said to be a huge admirer of George Formby and was asked whether she would like to become the president of the George Formby Appreciation Society.
Her advisors deemed this inappropriate but Her Majesty said: “Well, I do see that, but you see I love George Formby.
“I know all his songs and I can sing them.”
The programme Our Queen: 90 Musical Years, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 12 June at 7pm.
My favorite song when I think about her Majesty is Ella Fitzgerald singing Stiff Upper Lip. My I just love that, think of all the great English gifts to the world.