Queen Elizabeth II Dislikes This One Thing About Royal Life

Queen Elizabeth II has been lauded as the world’s oldest and longest-reigning living monarch, having ascended the throne at the age of 25 years old. Understandably, Her Royal Majesty has faced her fair share of challenges and difficulties within her 67-year reign as Queen.

Although she’s 28 years older than the average retirement age, the 93-year-old monarch has kept doing more in the role she holds, even upping the total number of engagements she handled last year to almost 300 — beating even her grandchildren Prince William and Prince Harry.

The Queen is very good at her job and has faced numerous curiosities surrounding the traditions she has had to handle. Among all of the traditions she has had to follow through on, there was one particular tradition that she really disliked.

Revealed in the 1992 BBC documentary entitled “Elizabeth R,” the film showed the Queen complaining while a portrait was being taken of her. Her Majesty was draped in a large, heavy, dark-colored Garter robe, which she had frustratedly said was not “practical.” Referring to the weight and warmth of the robe, the overall complaint was how uncomfortable it was to wear.

“Whoever invented these robes … they are not very practical!” the monarch exclaimed. “They couldn’t have been practical even in the days somebody walked in these.”

“Must be quite warm,” commented the portrait painter, engaging the Queen in conversation. “It is certainly warm on a June day plodding down,” the Queen replied. “It is always very lucky we plod down down hill and not up hill.”

The robes are a tradition worn by the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a chivalrous order comprised of the sovereign, the Prince of Wales and no more than 24 living members or companions. The members are expected to wear their garter robes on ceremonial occasions, most notably during the annual Garter day, held every June at the Windsor Castle.

Earlier in June, the Queen was once again seen donning the robes and vestments of their Order during the ceremonious Garter Day. She was accompanied by other nobles such as Prince Charles, Prince William and other members of the royal family. The King of Spain and the King of the Netherlands were also in attendance.