Television presenter JJ Chalmers has revealed the late Queen Elizabeth II was a big fan of Strictly Come Dancing.
Appearing on BBC One's coverage of the Queen's coffin procession in Edinburgh on Monday 12 September afternoon, the presenter and former contestant, whose father was once the Queen's Chaplin, shared the sweet anecdote with news presenter Huw Edwards.
Huw prompted him: "Lots of viewers will be fascinated to learn, they've seen you broadcasting, but they may not be aware you have a family link."
JJ replied: "Yes and it's a remarkable thing to have a relationship with the Royal Family of my own, and then a relationship my father had for a very long time with The Queen. And some of the occasions I've met her were with my father, for example in the grounds of Holyrood there."
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He then went on to reveal that the Queen was a big fan of the Saturday night entertainment show, of which he was a contestant in 2020 and paired with Welsh professional dancer Amy Dowden.
JJ went on: "And actually, I've never said this one, but one of the most lovely things I've ever seen was, following the death of her husband my father had obviously written to her and she returned a letter which was typed and had all the expected notes within it, but at the bottom was a handwritten message that said: 'I've just realised that the JJ Chalmers that I've been watching on the coverage of my husband's funeral is the same JJ Chalmers that you told me of being injured all those years ago'".
He continued: "And also a line that said: 'And the same JJ Chalmers that I enjoyed watching on Strictly Come Dancing.' That's the great thing.
"So yes she has two things actually, she has an incredible memory but she also watches Strictly Come Dancing."
Huw laughed in response, calling it the "revelation of the day".
The beginning of the BBC show's 20th series currently hangs in the balance, with no word yet on whether this Saturday 17 September's launch show will go ahead following the Queen's passing.
JJ had previously served with the Royal Marines, and spoke with Huw about the Queen's relationship with the armed forces.
"First and foremost, she was our commander-in-chief. She was the boss. And I mean that as a real term of endearment, if we called her the boss that's a real respect," JJ explained.
He continued: "The fact that her picture hangs in every military mess around the country... we toasted to the Queen, TTQ, at the end of every evening.
"But I think also, except from the formal role she held at the top of the military, but her time as a veteran herself, serving in the Second World War as a mechanic, the first woman in the Royal Family to serve in a full-time role within the military. That understanding of what it means to serve not just your country but within the armed forces."
The late Queen's funeral is set for Monday 19 September, with the day also being deemed a bank holiday across the UK.
Ahead of the service at Westminster Abbey, the Queen's coffin was taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to nearby St Giles' Cathedral where her family, and a congregation drawn from all areas of Scottish society, attended a service of thanksgiving for her life.
King Charles emotionally led his siblings, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence - while the Queen Consort and other members of the monarchy followed in cars.
Members of the public will be able to view the coffin to pay their respects for 24 hours before it is flown to London ahead of a four-day period of lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.
This week, OK! celebrates the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special in honour of Britain's longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy.
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