# How does the Queen Elizabeth answer her phone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 23, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114 "2009-04-23T17:08:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/61 "2010-05-03T04:40:26Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > “Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith speaking” > > Depends on which realm the subject she is communicating with is from 🙂 Let’s just hope she doesn’t get a job in corporate accounts payable. “Corporate accounts payable, this is Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith speaking. Just a moment. Corporate accounts payable, this is Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith speaking. Just a moment. Corporate accounts payable, this is Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith speaking. Just a moment.” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/62 "2010-05-03T04:51:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’ve also read that the Queen has developed a stock line to use whenever the cellphone of a visitor goes off: “You’d better answer that. It might be someone important.” Why, that’s not arrogant or conceited at all, implying you’re obviously the most important person on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/63 "2010-05-03T09:14:29Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > I hear that Prince Charles has never put toothpaste on his toothbrush in his life; when he goes to brush his teeth it’s just there ready. For all he knows it’s like that for everyone; that would explain his readiness to believe in superstitions like talking plants and homeopathy. You can’t believe everything you hear. Given the famously spartan nature of the school he went to, plus his time in the services, he’s clearly perfectly capable of fending for himself, as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/64 "2010-05-03T11:05:46Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Why, that’s not arrogant or conceited at all, implying you’re obviously the most important person on Earth. To a lot of people, she is. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/65 "2010-05-03T11:38:30Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Why, that’s not arrogant or conceited at all, implying you’re obviously the most important person on Earth. Except that she probably means it in good humour. She is quite likely playing on the belief _of the people with her_ that she is very important. They are going to be embarrassed that they forgot to turn their phone off in the presence of someone _they_ consider to be immensely important. She knows this (again, regardless of her own view of herself). They are probably going to be very apologetic. If she says nothing, they will be embarrassed at what they see as a gaffe. If she says “that’s quite all right” or something similarly polite they are going to think she is just being polite and still be embarrassed. By making a joke of it, she breaks the tension. I’m no kind of fan of the royals, but I understand from what little I bother to read about them that they do have to spend half their life making very nervous people feel sufficiently at ease to be able to converse with them, and that they are consequently reasonably good at it. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/66 "2010-05-03T11:41:20Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I am not a number… I am a free woman! Queen in the Village: “One is not a number!” This thread reminds me of something - might have been a (rather odd) Trivial Pursuit question and answer, although I am not certain on this point, nor on the exact wording of the question: Q: “When the Queen Mother calls the Queen, how is she put through?” A: “Your Majesty, Her Majesty. Your Majesty”. (Obviously the question dates from a time when Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was alive.) If this is in any way accurate, it implies that even close relatives don’t (or didn’t, at that time) ring straight through to the monarch, but were forwarded by a secretary, who would ensure that both parties knew when they were connected and whom they were talking to. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/67 "2010-05-03T13:31:45Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Except that she probably means it in good humour. She is quite likely playing on the belief _of the people with her_ that she is very important… Exactly. I should’ve made clear, it’s just a deadpan joke of hers. I think it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/68 "2010-05-03T16:37:43Z")
Thiz is Liz. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/69 "2010-05-03T19:09:52Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > Queen in the Village: “One is not a number!” I thought one was the loneliest number. > [@cmkeller](#): > > Thiz is Liz. Shouldn’t that be “Thiz iz Liz”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/70 "2010-05-03T19:29:20Z")
“is” already uses a “z” sound at the end, so creative misspelling wasn’t really necessary. Though I guess there’s some esthetic appeal to seeing it written that way. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/71 "2010-05-03T19:34:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I image she has a special top secret line for friends & family, complete with caller i.d. She probably says “Hello.” “This had better be important, Charles.” ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/72 "2010-05-04T00:31:24Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Exactly. I should’ve made clear, it’s just a deadpan joke of hers. I think it’s hilarious. I agree, and it’s a shame that her wicked sense of humour doesn’t get more public airtime. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/73 "2010-05-04T00:37:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > This is the best I could do: [http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/allo-allo-ici-the-queen-who-s-this.html](http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/allo-allo-ici-the-queen-who-s-this.html). I’ve read elsewhere that the Queen took it in good humor when she spoke to the very apologetic Canadian PM later, joking, “I thought your voice sounded slightly different, but I thought it might just have been because you were drunk.” One particularly interesting part of this particular prank was that it was conducted partly in French. The Queen speaks fluent French (she’s addressed the Canadian parliament and French senate in French) and when the DJ suggested they switch to French, she simply rapped out, “Bon, allez.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/74 "2010-05-04T01:03:16Z")
Yes, she doesn’t use Foreign Office translators when her visitors speak French. She’s quite fluent, by all accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/75 "2010-05-04T02:51:54Z")
It seems most logical that since she knows who is calling, she would answer with, “Hello \” However, what if she is called by someone else (an operator or something) before being patched through? I think “Hello?” would be most likely, or “What is it?” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/76 "2010-05-04T02:57:25Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Her voicemail did, for a while. > > [William and Harry change Grandma’s voicemail](http://www.exposay.com/princes-william-and-harry-pull-phone-joke-on-queen-elizabeth/v/9008/) Nice! Let’s be honest. If the Queen were your Grandmother, it’d be hard _not_ to mess with her voice mail. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/77 "2012-10-28T13:00:53Z")
Yes, I’m bumping a zombie thread, with a question asked in 2009, to alert y’all that this question is now addressed by **Elendil’s Heir** in a Staff Report that is planned to appear this coming Tuesday (30-Oct-2012) > **[How does the Queen answer the phone?](https://www.straightdope.com/21344159/how-does-the-queen-answer-the-phone)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD Congratulations, **Kimmy\_Gibbler**! And congrats, **Elendil’s Heir** on nagging TPTB sufficiently to get a Staff Report issued! ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/78 "2012-10-28T14:01:10Z")
I have it on good authority from a man in the pub that all Her Maj’s most important messages are delivered by trained homing corgis. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/79 "2012-10-28T23:17:35Z")
[quote=“Guinastasia, post:46, topic:494114”] If she has a cellphone, one wonders what her ringtone is-well, besides, “God Save the Queen” or “Rule Britannia”. I shudder to think how Phillip probably answers the phone. [Wrong Albert](http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7465)\* [/QUOTE] Anecdotal, but she \* does \* have a cell phone… I read a story where the pilot of her aircraft had to respectfully request her to stop using her phone during take off, (Possibly not so respectfully ,) : ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114/80 "2012-10-28T23:34:16Z")
“Ghostbusters. Whaddayawant?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114.md?page=5)