Essex Scout leader on meeting the Queen: "She had warmth, empathy and time for young people"
The Queen visited Essex's Gilwell Park in 1995
Last updated 16th Sep 2022
An Essex Scout leader has been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who was the Patron of Scouting.
Simon Carter, works at Gilwell Park, near Epping Forest, a scout facility the Queen visited in 1995.
She was coming to see the centre after if had been done up, and Simon remembers the day well: "Scouts were doing various different activities on the day of her visit.
"The Queen went around every group of young people and spent time with them. She just chatted with them asking about their likes and dislikes, scouting and their badges.
"She really had time for young people, and took the time to get beneath their views on the world.
"That she had time is my overriding memory of the day."
Whilst you might think the Queen is one of the most recognisable people in the country, and perhaps the world, Simon remembers some of his scouts not knowing who the Queen was: "Many of the young people had no idea who she was! "That was really joyful though because they just talked to her as though she was their grandmother. She came across as a person with warmth and empathy, and the young people responded in turn."
It wasn't just children Her Majesty got on well with either, with the Scout leader saying the late Queen knew how to put everyone at ease: "She turned up to this horseshoe of people and the staff were all a bit tongue-tied.
"Some brave soul started the conversation by saying to Her Majesty: 'Which way did you get here? Did you come via the M25 or the North Circular?'
"The Queen came straight back and said: 'I have outriders - it doesn't really really matter how I travel, I still get here at the same time!'
"That made everyone laugh and feel more relaxed, and then the conversation flowed."
Simon met the Queen again during the Scouting centenary in 2007, where, once again, he was charmed by the Queen: "She talked to all the young people. She knew about our centenary and mentioned she'd been to our fiftieth anniversary back in 1957, too.
"I'm sure she had great briefings and would've been given background information, but for those people that were there it was real, it was specific and it felt incredibly authentic, because that's what she was - authentic."
Simon also explained some changes would be made, following King Charles III's accession to the throne.
These include their highest honour, the Queen's Scout Award, being renamed the King's Scout Award, and having all new Scouts make a promise to the King: "I was very lucky to be present at a ceremony on Friday evening.
"It was a really, really moving moment and the Scouts all felt very special. It was slightly difficult though, because we all said it and were very careful to make sure we said the right thing, but the young people were great and made their promise to the King, as everyone else will now, too."
He's confident King Charles III will continue the work his mother started with the organisation: "Charles will be a fantastic King. He's been to many Scouting events in the past.
"We know him to have the same approach, attitude and warmth as his mother - that's a very good thing."