Aussie cricket legend Adam Gilchrist recalls the 'jaw-dropping' moment he met Queen Elizabeth II and lauds her cheeky sense of humour

• e-mail

Australian cricket legend and wicket-keeping great Adam Gilchrist fondly recalls his meeting with Her Majesty and praises her cheeky sense of humour.

The former Australian captain met Queen Elizabeth II on a number of occasions, but it was a meet-and-greet opportunity at Buckingham Palace during the 1999 World Cup in England where he got to see her funny side. 

Adam Gilchrist meets Queen Elizabeth II during a garden party at Government House in Perth, Western Australia, on October 27, 2011

Gilchrist remembers the Queen fondly as having a subtle sense of humour which lightened the mood. The former Aussie cricket captain cherished the moments he got to spend with her

'We were formally introduced to the Queen and the Duke (Prince Phillip) inside Buckingham Palace and then she sort of mingled a bit with a group of us led by Steve Waugh and Shane Warne,' Gilchrist recalled to The West Australian.    

'We had our green-and-yellow with fine red pin-striped blazers on and I remember her making the remark that we looked like ice-cream sellers from Pall Mall. There was a subtle sense of humour there which lightened up the mood.'

On another occasion after introducing several Western Australian sport stars to the Queen in Perth, the former wicketkeeper had to fly to Sydney the following morning and got a a big shock on the plane as he waited for take-off.

'The West Australian was folded up in the seat pocket in front of me and I just whipped it out, settled into my seat and thought, "What's news",' he recalled.

Gilchrist remarked on the Queen's ability to make those around her feel at ease

'I held it up and there I am on the front page of the paper standing next to the Queen. As I gazed at it and picked my jaw up, I realised the bloke sitting next to me was looking at me looking at myself on the front page of the paper with the Queen.

'I just thought, 'That guy thinks I truly am a flog.'

Gilchrist cherished the few moments he got to spend with the Queen and said he was amazed at the longevity of consistent service Her Majesty had endured.

'It was just her ability to make you feel at ease,' he said.

'It highlighted what her life was ... that small-talk and introductions, but even though it was formal, she did it in such a relaxed and comfortable manner. My main reflection of her is that whether you're fiercely into the royal family and the monarchy, non-committal or even to the other extreme of being full-on into the republican movement, the facts are that for most of us she has always been in that position for our whole lives.

The Australian cricket team pose for a group photograph after winning the first Test match between England and Australia at Edgebaston in 2001. The Queen was also a cricket fan, often attending Test matches at Lord's and always remaining strictly neutral during The Ashes series and other matches between England and Australia

'That constant and consistent representation of what she was assigned to do from childbirth is just remarkable. Her unconditional commitment to it and upholding her strong values of the way society should conduct itself is my takeaway from it.

'Her loss will be one that everyone will reflect on a bit at some stage and realise that in some way, shape or form, the Queen will have had a part in their lives.'

The death of Queen Elizabeth II comes just months after Shane Warne also passed away, and recent details have emerged of the Australian cricket legend's sweet friendship with the British monarch.

Adam Gilchrist (left) and Shane Warne (right) commentating in 2018. The death of Queen Elizabeth II comes just months after Shane Warne also passed away, and recently details have emerged of the Australian cricket legend's sweet friendship with the British monarch

 The monarch herself was also a cricket fan, often attending Test matches at Lord's and always remaining strictly neutral during The Ashes series and other matches between England and Australia.

In fact, The Queen and Prince Philip were once caught sneaking home early from a royal engagement to catch the cricket highlights, according to British society magazine Tatler.