Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh
I pray to the gods that Her Maj and Phil are MASSIVE Game of Thrones fans and look forward every weekend to a good hour of full-frontal nudity and over-the-top violence, and have demanded this visit so as to really get an word in with some people. "These people need Our advice," the Queen murmurs over her gin and tonic. "We would never have let that smarmy twat Joffrey get so far, so fast." (I always like the Queen in yellow.)
Queen Elizabeth II and Lena Headey and the Iron Throne
This shot, of course, is the money shot of the bunch. She looks like she's thinking, "this looks very uncomfortable. PHIL, CALL THE HOUSE AND TELL THEM TO GET ME ONE OF THESE."
I wish I could have been there for Lena Headey's commentary if the Queen is not, in fact, a fan of Game of Thrones. How does one explain Ms. Cersei Lannister to the Queen in a delicate manner? "Well, ma'am. She makes bad romantic decisions. I mean, they're KIND of understandable because the man in question is very good-looking, but....no. No. Very questionable indeed. Let me just say that she is a very strong woman with some very, very, very very large blind spots. She also has wonderful braids! How do you feel about braids?"
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit The Game of Thrones Set
Here, she's meeting the costume and prop guys and (a) this visit must have been a kick for all and sundry, and (b) you KNOW props, in particular, had a whole list of shit they'd like to borrow from QE2 if only they were allowed. It appears she's looking at some weaponry on the table there? You know that dude has to be like, "PLEASE LET ME BORROW SOME OF YOUR STABBY ITEMS. YOU HAVE SO MANY OF THEM."
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit The Game of Thrones Set
You KNOW the prop and costume departments at Game of Thrones are SO FUN, too. When we visited Sleepy Hollow -- which was awesome -- half of the treat was talking to the insanely creative folks who figure out prop and costume questions that we civilians never even think about, and I'm sure they have all kinds of fascinating stories over at GoT. I hope QE2 showed up with a list of questions and was like, "okay. So. Jon Snow's fur coat. Talk to me. Did you make that? Can I have one? I think it would be smashing for next year's Opening of Parliament, no? I'm just going to show up in that, unfurl a scroll, yell 'WINTER IS COMING' and then RUN OUT. Wouldn't that be a gas? Help me pull this off."
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit Northern Ireland
This is Belfast Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon next to the Queen and this is maybe the first time I have ever seen a plate of food in front of the Queen. She looks like she's trying to use The Force to transport the salt to her side of the table. (I really also used this pic so you can see the print on her dress, which is totally Great Wallpaper Material.)
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit Belfast
Lord Mayor Nicola Mallon seems to be having a great time, it must be said. All the photos of her could basically be captioned, "WHEEEEEE." In, like, a respectful manner.
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit Belfast
Dude, I hope this photo turned out and you got her entire skeptical "WTF is it with selfies these days?" expression and not just a fuzzy tidbit of The Royal Hat.
Queen Elizabeth II And Duke Of Edinburgh Visit Belfast
"Can we interest you in a throw pillow, ma'am? It might draw attention from that rug situation...."