1 month ago 11th Nov 14:00
Britain's Queen Elizabeth was tossed into the air by a rugby player as a toddler, sparking "mild panic".
The 82-year-old monarch was reminded of the incident as she hosted the current Australian rugby union tour squad at Windsor Castle yesterday (10.11.08), but she admitted she couldn't remember the 1928 meeting.
John O'Neill, managing director and chief executive officer of Australian Rugby Union, told the queen about her meeting with the Australian player, who had emerged from a long lunch when he encountered the then-princess.
John said: "She had never heard the story. She was quick to point out that she would have been about 18 months old.
08), the players were seen practising gentle handshakes among themselves after being reminded not to clasp the monarch's hand too vigorously when they met her
"She said she had no recollection of being thrown in the air. I responded that I wouldn't blame her for blocking it out of the memory bank."
However, when Elizabeth's worried governess arrived on the scene, the Australian squad manager reportedly reassured her that the player "had the safest hands on the team and never dropped a ball".
Prior to yesterday's function, which was held ahead of an Australia V England rugby match on Saturday (16.11.08), the players were seen practising gentle handshakes among themselves after being reminded not to clasp the monarch's hand too vigorously when they met her.
More about Queen Elizabeth's toddler panic on page 2
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