The late Queen Elizabeth II had her pick of royal residences up and down the country, but in 1981, she almost had to rest her head in the B&B at a pub, after a blizzard stopped the royal in her tracks. This forgotten story has been retold by royal writer, Hugo Vickers, in the latest episode of HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast.
Speaking to the hosts, Emily Nash, Andrea Caamano and Emmy Griffiths, Hugo recounted the story: “She was leaving Gatcombe Park, visiting Princess Anne, and the car got stuck in a total blizzard. There was nothing they could do. Detective Inspector Trestrail, who later had to resign over other things, he went and negotiated, and they found a way so that the Queen could go up a side exterior staircase to this room, where she spent some time and might have had to stay the night, but actually somehow they managed to clear the road [so] about midnight she left. The people in the bar downstairs had no idea.”
© UK Press via Getty ImagesThe Queen nearly stayed the night at a pub because of the storm
“I guess it’s largely forgotten now,” said Hugo of the story, adding: “They still have the plaque,” referring to the plaque placed proudly inside the pub about that very night.
Watch the full podcast episode:
Late Queen’s first official pub visit
In 1998, Queen Elizabeth II made, what was believed to be, her first ever official pub visit. She stopped by the Bridge Inn at Topsham, Devon and although she didn’t have a drink herself, she was gifted a bottle of beer, which she said her husband, Prince Phillip, would enjoy.
The Prince of pubs
© Courtesy of Apple TVPrince William and Eugene Levy filmed at the pub in February 2025
Prince William and Schitt’s Creek’s Eugene Levy enjoyed a pint at The Two Brewers when they filmed for Apple TV’s The Reluctant Traveler, and the public house has been growing in popularity since. Stuart O’Brien, the pub’s owner, confirmed to HELLO! that there has been an uptick in guests. “Just a little bit. Just a smidge,” Stuart joked. “But yes! A lot of people coming in, a lot of tourists come in because they’ve seen the show.”
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People visiting the pub, steps from Windsor Castle’s Cambridge Gate, have been requesting the booth where the future King and Emmy winner sat in the episode. Stuart shared: “At the moment, we’re kind of calling it ‘the future King’s corner’ for just a bit of a laugh.
Harry and Meghan’s favourite UK pub
The couple were fond of a particular UK pub
It has been widely reported that when the couple were living at Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry and Meghan would take their son Prince Archie for a Sunday roast at The Rose and Crown, their local pub in Winkfield, Berkshire.
The Sun reported that the couple would enjoy their dinner while the then-three-month-old Archie slept in a cot beside them as well as being cradled by doting mum Meghan.