Queen Elizabethis back to royal business three days afterreleasing a responsetoMeghan MarkleandPrince Harry’s revealingOprah Winfrey interview.
The monarch is a longstanding champion of British science, engineering and endeavor and has marked key milestones in science and space exploration throughout her reign — including the moon landing in 1969. She welcomed Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to Buckingham Palace.
She also recalled meeting Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into space, at the palace in 1961, shortly following his return to Earth.
Queen Elizabeth.Buckingham Palace
“It was very interesting to meet him. And I suppose being the first one, it was particularly fascinating,” she said.
Dr. Maggie Aderin- Pocock MBE added, “It must have been very terrifying to be the first one, and not really knowing what was going to happen.”
The Queen replied, “Well, yes – and if you could come back again. That’s very important!”
Queen Elizabeth.
Get the premiere issue of PEOPLERoyalsfor glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven’t seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe atpeopleroyals.com/launch
At the end of the call, the monarch told the group, “It’s been very interesting to hear from you all. I hope the children have enjoyed it too – they might learn something from it as well! Thank you very much indeed. It’s wonderful work you are all doing.”
As a memento from the session, the Queen was presented with a set of Mars Perseverance rover face masks, sent from NASA headquarters to Windsor Castle. Professor Smith asked that one of the masks be gifted toPrince Philip, who is currently in the hospital, given his particular interest in space exploration —a fact that wasaddressed in season 3 ofThe Crown.
The Queen’s appearance comes days after the palace issued a statement on her behalf following her grandson Harry and Meghan’s interview withOprah Winfreylast Sunday.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” reads the statement, which was released on Tuesday.
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak to Oprah Winfrey.CBS/Youtube
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
A palace source stresses to PEOPLE that at the “heart of this is a family, and they should be given the opportunity to discuss the issues raised privately, as a family.”
On Thursday,Prince William hit back at racism claimsfollowing the interview, telling a Sky News reporter, “We are very much not a racist family.”
When asked if he had spoken to Harry after the Oprah interview, he added, “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will do.”
source: people.com
