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A lifelong fan of the Royal family has shared his memories of the Queen with Express, including the times he was able to enjoy short conversations with her during her trips to the Bailiwick.
David Hands moved to Guernsey in the late 1970s, so first saw Her Majesty here in 1978.
He then saw her again in 1989, 2001 and 2005 – managing to be photographed talking with her on her last two visits to the islands.
As Duty Night Manager at Moores’ Hotel, where he has worked for more than 40 years, Mr Hands has been able to attend every Royal visit to Guernsey which has included an event in town or nearby.
Pictured: David Hands, meeting with Express to share his memories of Queen Elizabeth II.
He clearly remembers making his way to the Arcade to see Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.
“There were huge crowds. If it’s the Queen everybody comes out, so there were huge crowds. All cheering and all happy.
“If you get to have a quick few minutes with any member of the Royal family, whether it’s the Queen or Princess Anne, Charles, any member of the Royal family, to have a chat with you, it makes your year. For me, back in 2001 and 2005 it was fantastic. It was a real surprise, you don’t expect to have that opportunity.”
Not only was Mr Hands lucky enough to speak with Her Majesty twice during her later visits to the islands, but his brush with Royal history was captured by photographer Chris George.
“I got that opportunity (to talk to the Queen) twice and it was lovely. Just a few words from the Queen. You don’t realise how tiny she is – but she was quite tiny when you’re up close and personal with her.
Pictured: Chris George photographed the Queen during most of the her visits to the Bailiwick, including in 2005.
“It was wonderful. I will always remember those two occasions.
“The photograph was taken in 2001 when I gave her the flowers, and I took the photograph with me in 2005 when she came over for the 60th anniversary of the Liberation and she thought it was lovely, so I was really, really pleased about that.
“That photograph has pride of place on my bookcase at home.”
Mr Hands has followed the Royal family his entire life, and was pleased Her Majesty was able to achieve her platinum jubilee, which confirmed her reign as the longest in British history.
“She was a lovely person and anybody who had the opportunity to meet her over the last 70 years keeps that in their memory like I’ve kept that in my memory.
“She was a wonderful lady – what she’s done. Achieving her Platinum Jubilee was just fantastic.
“It feels remarkable – never did I think in 2001 or 2005 that that would happen, that she would reach her Platinum Jubilee, but she did. It’s remarkabale, she’s remarkable – she was just a remarkable lady.
Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II achieved 70 years on the throne in February 2022, and it was celebrated in June of this year.
“Because she did these walkabouts for so long, she just knew what to say to people. She was used to speaking to people and functions and receptions and she was quite natural when she spoke to you.
“You’d just have a few minutes conversation – but even a couple of minutes, you’ve spoken to the Queen.”
Mr Hands said his interest in the Royal family was centred around the late Princess Diana, who he views as iconic, but it was the Queen who he revered as her life reached its later years.
“When the Duke (of Edinburgh) died I wanted to send the Queen a condolence card, so I did. I think it was the July I got a card back and it said, ‘Thank you very much for your kind words that you sent on the death of my beloved husband’ and it’s signed Elizabeth R, printed at the bottom. It’s a beautiful photograph of him on the front.
“I had said how very sad I was that Your Royal Highness has passed away, and I said I always enjoyed your visits to Guernsey in 1978, 89, 01 and 05 because I know she loved coming to Guernsey. She did love coming to the Channel Islands, I think all members of the Royal family love coming here.
"Yes, there has to be security but it’s not as tight as if they go abroad or they’re in the UK. They can relax just that little bit and get up and close to the people here, it’s just that little bit more relaxed.”
Pictured: The then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Guernsey in 2012, including spending time at Les Bourgs Hospice.
Mr Hands has also shaken hands with Prince Charles, and thinks he will make a good King.
“He was at Candie and I was in the grounds and I shook his hand and had a brief chat. He was very nice. Charles has got a very good sense of humour. When you see him with Camilla they work well together and people weren’t perhaps happy when they got together but she’s very good with people and they make a good team.
“He will be King she will be Queen Consort because that’s been announced. He won’t be on the throne as long as his mother, given his age, we know that, and then we’ll have William and Kate who I I think will be superb.
“But I think Charles and Camilla will make a good King and Queen Consort. They’ll be fine – yes. It’s very sad the Queen has passed away, but like the Queen Mother, she’s had a wonderful life.
“We won’t see any of the Queen’s like again.”
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