That was the fond reflection of Silversea UK and Ireland managing director Peter Shanks as he shared his cherished memories of hosting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the naming of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
Shanks, who was the line’s UK president that October day in Southampton, described his joy at the monarch’s love of all things maritime and her passion for spending time with the ship’s crew.
“Her maritime knowledge was prolific and it was so exciting for everyone to have her at the launch. I was moved by just how genuinely interested she was in everyone she met and she spent a lot of time speaking to each crew member onboard,” Shanks told TTG.
Shanks said he was particularly proud of being able to make the Queen “sit up and giggle” during his speech on the day.
While still a princess, the Queen christened Cunard’s Caronia in 1947, and in 1967 she named QE2, as well as the line’s Queen Mary 2 in 2004.
"I joked that she was the only person with us on that day who could remember the other christenings and she laughed” said Shanks. “That was the magic of her – she had an incredible knack for putting everyone she met immediately at ease.
“We talk a lot in business about great leadership and there really is no better example of that than the way Her Majesty led the country over her reign. Today is a sad day but one we can reflect on with such amazing memories."
Meanwhile, Paul Charles, founder of travel public relations firm PC Agency, had an unexpected audience with The Queen when he worked for Eurostar.
“It was 2004 and I was communications director and one of team overseeing Her Majesty’s first trip on Eurostar all the way to Paris. We had police officers on every bridge on the route, including in France,” he recalled to TTG.
“I was onboard with The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and there was a worrying moment when we arrived because the train door didn’t open – the security settings had been altered. She was held up for a minute, but just said ‘Oh these things happen’.
“I returned to London on the next train, but I was then invited back to Paris to meet Her Majesty the next day over tea at the Elysee Palace – I couldn’t believe it.
“We had tea together, just the two of us, for seven or eight minutes. She was extremely interested in Eurostar’s technical details and remarked how it would transform travel for ever. I think she was genuinely impressed. It was a nervous moment, I’m sure my hands were shaking but I didn’t spill anything!
“She presented me with a signed picture of herself and the Duke which I have on my wall at home. It was all quite overwhelming.”
