The Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney led the accolades, saying he felt “privileged” to have been alive during the entirety of the Queen’s reign, as he shared decades of intimate memories with the head of state that came “flooding back”.
Writing on his website, he recalled his multiple interactions with the Queen, the first of which came in 1965, and the last in 2018, when he had made her “giggle”.
The 80-year-old star recounted The Beatles performing for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in 1963. But it was not until two years later, when the Queen awarded each of The Beatles an MBE, that they had their first encounter.
Sir Paul said: “We were told how to approach Her Majesty and not to talk to her unless she talks to us. For four Liverpool lads, it was, ‘Wow, hey man’.”
He went on to meet the Queen several times over the years, including being given the opportunity to “rock out” in the Queen’s garden first to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and again for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Sir Paul praised the monarch’s “fabulous sense of humour” when he recalled their final meeting in 2018. “Because of my respect and love for the Queen and her fabulous sense of humour when I was given the Companion of Honour medal I shook her hand, leaned in and said, ‘We have got to stop meeting like this’, to which she giggled slightly and got on with the ceremony.
“I did wonder if I was a bit too cheeky after saying this, after all this was the Queen, but I have a feeling she didn’t mind.” Grammy award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti, 35, revealed how the Queen told her she had a giggling fit as a young girl during a private performance by world-famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin.”
The virtuoso was playing for her and sister Princess Margaret when they were children. But he was breathing so heavily the young royals struggled to contain their laughter.
Scots-born Nicola said: “I think many of us wish we had an ounce of her grace, humility, consistency, reliability and stoicism.” Composer Lord Andrew Lloyd- Webber said he “diverted” his journey to lay flowers outside Buckingham Palace to pay his respects to the Queen on Thursday.
The 74-year-old said: “I just thought it was absolutely the right thing to do.” “She was the most extraordinary person and we will never see the like again.”
Other British celebrities who paid tribute included Dame Joanna Lumley, Sir Rod Stewart, the rock band Queen, Police frontman Sting, music mogul Simon Cowell, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Dame Helen Mirren.
Dolly Parton, 76, led tributes from US artists, saying she had the “honour” of performing for and meeting the Queen, praising her “grace and strength”.
Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand, Sir Mo Farah and Daniel Craig also paid their respects.
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