Queen overheard calling world leaders 'irritating' in private chat

The Queen made the shocking comments during a private conversation in Cardiff

Queen overheard calling world leaders 'irritating' in private chat
(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen has been overheard criticizing world leaders in a private chat, in a rare display of frustration for the normally diplomatic monarch. 

  • The Queen has been caught criticizing world leaders in a private conversation with Duchess Camilla this week. 
  • Her Majesty let slip her true feelings on the upcoming climate emergency summit, COP26, which is scheduled to take place in Glasgow later this month. 
  • In other royal news, the Queen urged to give up alcohol by concerned doctors.

Her Majesty has shocked royal fans with her candid comments about world leaders during her trip to Cardiff yesterday, revealing an uncharacteristically fiery side of her traditionally mild-manner persona. 

The Queen visited Wales for the first time in five years on Thursday morning to open its parliament, the Senedd, for its sixth term. She was accompanied by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall for the engagement, which saw her deliver a powerful speech about Cambria's commendable handling of the pandemic. 

It was also during this visit when the Queen made a number of remarks about the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, in which she vented her frustration about the lack of clarity over its guests. 

Queen Elizabeth II, Elin Jones, Llywydd of the Senedd and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall talk during the opening ceremony of the sixth session of the Senedd at The Senedd on October 14, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales.

(Image credit: Getty)

The two-week-long conference, which kicks off on October, 31 will see up to 120 world leaders come together to discuss their goals for combating the climate emergency. However, the exact names of these representatives have yet to be revealed. While President Biden has been confirmed to attend, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have made no indication they’ll fly to Scotland for the high-profile event. 

With her beloved Buckingham Palace now at risk of flooding due to the climate emergency, the Queen is less than impressed with the lack of commitment from the leaders of the world’s top offenders when it comes to carbon emissions. 

She voiced her true feelings about the situation in a conversation with Duchess Camilla and Elin Jones, the Senedd's presiding officer—seemingly unaware her words were audible on the microphone. 

"I've been hearing all about COP... I still don't know who's coming,” the 95-year-old monarch appears to say. 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks during the ceremonial opening of the sixth Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, in Cardiff, Wales on October 14, 2021.

(Image credit: Getty)

“We only know about people who are not coming. It's really irritating when they talk, but they don't do.” 

The Queen is far from the only Royal Family member to take issue with the global response to climate change. Prince William slammed space tourists in a recent interview to promote his Earthshot competition, urging entrepreneurs to invest in our native planet rather than exploring new ones. Prince Charles has also been a longtime advocate of climate action, delivering a passionate speech on sustainability at Highgrove earlier this year and even launching his own conscious fashion collection with Net-a-Porter

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.