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| Queen Elizabeth II, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Duke of Edinburgh stand for the playing of "God Save the Queen" during a state banquet in Wellington, New Zealand, on Feb. 25, 2002. The queen was on her 10th official visit to New Zealand. (Ross Land/Getty Images) |
Royal Author Claims Queen Elizabeth II’s “Icy Stare” Terrified Prime Ministers
Late British monarch Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had a powerful “icy look” that left even prime ministers shaken, according to royal author Robert Hardman.
In his new book, Elizabeth II: In Private, In Public: Her Story, Hardman described the late queen’s famous “glacial stare” as a silent but unforgettable sign of displeasure.
Hardman said the queen rarely raised her voice or publicly criticized people. Instead, she used what insiders called “the look” — a cold, direct stare that instantly signaled she was unhappy.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly admitted in his memoirs that he feared receiving the queen’s famous glare.
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| Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, watch a flypast marking the Royal Air Force centenary from Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018, in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) |
According to Hardman, the late monarch became even more authoritative with age and was known for quietly intimidating anyone who crossed royal protocol or behaved disrespectfully.
One notable moment reportedly occurred during the queen’s 2002 Golden Jubilee tour when former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark greeted her in casual trousers at a formal black-tie event — allegedly earning “the look” from the monarch.
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| Royal author Robert Hardman described Queen Elizabeth II as funny, witty and brutally honest. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press) |
The book offers a rare glimpse into the private personality of Queen Elizabeth II, portraying her as both warm and sharp, with a commanding presence behind palace doors.