The Queen ‘giggled like a schoolgirl’ when she heard a rude joke about Viagra and has a ‘wicked’ sense of humour, a royal courtier reveals
BEHIND her dignified poise as the nation’s Sovereign, the Queen has a wicked - and rather earthy - sense of humour.
Those close to Her Majesty say that the monarch giggles “like a schoolgirl” at jokes, preferably the ruder the better.
So Her Majesty, 93, will have been particularly saddened to learn of the death of Sir Donald Gosling, who made millions from founding NCP car parks, and was one of the few men confident enough to tell “blue” jokes in her company.
“HM would relish seeing Sir Don because she would know he always had a fresh supply of jokes, but his sense of humour was pretty salty,” says a courtier.
“Because of his great support - he gave away much of his fortune to Royal Navy projects and to charities favoured by the royals - the Queen would make sure he was on the invitation list for most things, especially events connected with the Services.”
The insider recalls one particularly humorous moment at a naval ceremony when Sir Don was sat one seat away from the Queen, then a defence secretary on the other side.
They said: “Don was in full flow telling her his latest joke - involving a horse trainer giving Viagra to a runner in the 2.30 at Newton Abbott.
“The Minister put up his hand and stopped Don, obviously thinking the Queen shouldn’t be exposed to such ribaldry.
“HM was furious - and berated the defence secretary for ruining the joke.
“She made Don tell the whole joke all over again, and shrieked with laughter at the punchline, which was about the horse winning against stiff competition, or something like that.”
And one of the other jokes Don told the Queen was on the topic of infidelity.
He is said to have told the Queen: “A chap called David and his two friends are talking at work.
“His first friend says, ‘I think my wife is having an affair with the electrician. The other day I came home and found wire cutters under our bed and they weren't mine.’
“His second friend says, ‘I think my wife is having an affair with the plumber. The other day I found a wrench under the bed and it wasn't mine.’
“David says, ‘I think my wife is having an affair with a horse.’
“Both his friends look at him with utter disbelief. ‘No I'm serious. The other day I came home and found a jockey under our bed.’”
HM would relish seeing Sir Don because she would know he always had a fresh supply of jokes, but his sense of humour was pretty salty.
A palace courtier
The insider said the royals loved Don and rewarded him for his hugely generous support to their projects.
The Queen made him a Vice-Admiral (he had started life as a humble Able Seaman) and shortly before his death (aged 90) Prince Charles held a birthday dinner for him at Clarence House.
When the Queen reluctantly agreed with the government in 1994 that the Royal Yacht Britannia had become too expensive to maintain, Gosling tried to organise a group of businessmen to pay for a replacement, putting up £5 million of his own money.
The Queen and Prince Philip have been married for 72 years, and their success is thought to be down to their shared sense of humour which sees them laugh, joke and make witty comments.
Throughout the years, the Duke of Edinburgh has played many practical jokes on his Royal wife - and while many generated a good laugh, others seriously backfired.
According to one Royal insider, the Prince once hid one of the Queen's beloved pet corgis in a bid to get dinner guests laughing.
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