- Former BBC manager Ella Slack helps at rehearsals for public events
- Has never accepted a penny and says it's 'a pleasure and an honour'
By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent
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One's royal double: Ella Slack been acting as a loyal stand-in for the Queen for rehearsals for public events for 24 years
In 60 years, the Queen has never put a foot wrong in public.
And for the last 24 of them, it turns out she’s had a secret weapon â€" the unassuming Ella Slack.
The former BBC manager has, unbeknown to anyone except a handful of key advisers, spent the last quarter of a century acting as the Queen’s official stand-in at rehearsals for royal events.
The 69-year-old from the Isle of Man has never accepted a penny for her loyal service, considering it ‘a pleasure and an honour’ to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the sovereign.
‘How many people in the world have had a chance to sit in a royal landau or walk onto the dais at Windsor Castle even before the Queen has done so?’ she said.
While Miss Slack may not resemble the Queen facially, she has a similar build to the monarch, standing just shy of 5ft.
The Queen is 5ft 2in.
She began her remarkable role in 1988, when she was working as manager of the BBC’s sports and events department.
A producer asked her if she could stand in
for the Queen to check camera angles at a rehearsal for Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph â€" and her second career was born.
Since then, from the State Opening of Parliament to the 50th anniversary of VE day, wherever the Queen is on duty Miss Slack is likely to have been there first.
She has perfected her own version of the Queen’s wardrobe, including a black patent handbag she bought in a charity shop for £1, and even styles her hair like the Queen.
Most recently, Miss Slack has been rehearsing for next weekend’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, braving the wind and rain on the royal barge.
And she has won a coveted place in the flotilla on the day itself â€" in a boat named, appropriately enough, the Queen Elizabeth.
Who's been sitting in my throne? Miss Slack rehearsing for the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen taking part in the real thing
Seat of honour: Standing in for the Queen before the VE Day anniversary parade in 1995
At the Cenotaph: In black gloves, Miss Slack rehearses Remembrance Day before the Queen does it for real
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Jeez!! Don't you people read!!! Ella Slack herself said she does NOT look anything like the queen but for her size and a slightly short height she was perfect for the job. It was all to make sure that everything was in order. I do agree she should have been given an allowance! What cheapskates!! But this woman had the time of her life, I would too!! Hahahaha!! All the best and have as much fun and enjoy it all!!! What a blessing!!
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What a nice thing for this lady to do, and what fun!
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She clearly hasn't sat in for the Queen at the dentists, unless she did so in the Royal stables.
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How stingy of the BBC, but typical, not to pay her!
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the queen has the chance to wipe out lots of dept. Doubt this will happen as they have proven that the whole family are scroungers - Bryan, UK, 26/5/2012 01:15 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// WHAT? 'Dept' is short for 'department' - what on earth are you on about?
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So wheres the "Majesty of Monarchy" if they need a "Commoner" to practice what they should doing? - bobbie, usa, 26/5/2012 02:26 ============================ Did you actually read the article? She stands in at rehearsals so that people can get their camera angles right and check that nothing will go wrong from a technical aspect - HMQ doesn't NEED to practise; she's an old hand and can do most of these things in her sleep. And why put 'Commoner' in quote marks like this - commoner is a perfectly proper word (although NOT a proper noun) and the lady is, indeed, a commoner! And what does 'they should doing' mean? Get a grip, please!
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Is it april the 1st? She looks nothing like the queen.
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So wheres the "Majesty of Monarchy" if they need a "Commoner" to practice what they should doing?
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She does not even look like the queen.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this a joke?
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Cool job!!!!
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