The Queen stayed in a £65-a-night B&B during freak storm in 1981 wearing a ‘sweatshirt and jeans’, hotel owner reveals
THE QUEEN made an unscheduled stay at a public B&B back in 1981 – and she was dressed very casually indeed.
The monarch had been driving back to Windsor Castle after visiting her daughter Princess Anne at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestshire when she ran into a blizzard.
The turn in the weather forced the royal party to make an unscheduled stop in the market town of Chipping Sodbury, to find emergency accommodation.
It came in the form of the Cross Hands Hotel, which was then owned by 42-year-old Roberto Cadei, whose rooms cost from £65 a night.
Cadei was surprised when he was at first approached by staff, admitting to the that he “couldn’t believe anyone would be out in that weather.”
A member of the Queen’s security then asked: ““I wish to inform you that Her Majesty the Queen is outside. Could you accommodate her too?”
The monarch was then snuck into room 15 of the hotel via a back door to avoid any other visitors.
And it is likely that Her Majesty went unnoticed as her outfit was far from regal.
Cadei’s wife Heather said at the time: “I must have been the only woman who ever received the Queen in her old blue jeans and sweatshirt.”
She added: “We didn't have time to be nervous or fuss. I just made her a cup of tea and prepared the table for her to eat.”
Following her impromptu stay the B&B drummed up plenty of custom from royal fans keen to stay in the “Queen’s room” with the Cadeis reporting an increase in business by 25 per cent.
The Queen’s choice of casual clothing may come as a surprise to some, as she reportedly "banned" Meghan Markle from wearing ripped jeans and wedges at Balmoral as she "hates them."
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Speaking to Fabulous Digital, the source said: “The Queen is no favourite of jeans so the US boyfriend look and ripped jeans will be left in Frogmore Cottage along with any wedges which her Majesty hates with a passion.”
In other royal news, we told you how Kate Middleton wore £1.50 earrings from Accessorize as she opened her Back To Nature garden.
And Kensington Palace shared a sweet throwback snap of William and Harry playing with Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips to mark Emergency Services Day.