Queen Elizabeth II finds meeting crowds of people holding mobile phones distinctly odd and misses the days of eye-contact, according to the US ambassador to Britain.
The British monarch made the comments to US Ambassador Matthew Barzun when he met the Queen at Buckingham Palace after his appointment in November last year.
In an interview for the October edition of Tatler magazine, the 43-year-old American said the Queen made the remarks during a "nice chat" they had after the ceremony.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, riding to Buckingham Palace in an open carriage – I don't think that will happen again," Barzun told Tatler.
Queen Elizabeth told him "how strange she finds it these days, with the crowds all standing there holding up their mobile phones," the magazine said.
"She was essentially saying 'I miss eye contact'," Barzun told the magazine.
The Queen told Barzun that she finds it “strange” to see nothing but the backs of mobile phones whenever she looks up.
Ahhh The Queen photo-bombed our selfie!! #royalty#sheevensmiled#amazing#Glasgow2014@Hockeyroos@AusComGamespic.twitter.com/ZMtHYFUqHk
— Jayde Taylor (@_JaydeTaylor) July 24, 2014
At public engagements the Queen is often greeted by hundreds of people trying to take pictures of her, both traditional and selfies.
The Queen appeared in a photograph by Australian hockey player Jayde Taylor, smiling in the background over her shoulder as she posed with a teammate during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July. The picture went viral and has been re-tweeted more than 15,000 times.
The Queen has allegedly owned a mobile phone since 2001, when the Duke of York gave her one as a gift, the Daily Telegraph reports. He showed her how to use it and saved the numbers of other members of the Royal family on it.
QUEEN SELFIE - the actual one, from a wee legend called jack. He’s gotta grab an MBE, right? pic.twitter.com/JKkjHbrMPr
— David Meade (@DavidMeadeLive) June 24, 2014