The Hunter River Times

BY DI SNEDDON

When Prue Bright (nee Neely) was named 2010 Singleton Showgirl she knew there would be new opportunities in the wings.

However, meeting Queen Elizabeth ll never crossed her mind.

In 2013 that is exactly what the former Singleton lass did, and it is an experience that stays vivid in her mind, especially since the Queen’s passing which caused a long moment of reflection.

“When I heard the news, I was extremely sad, but I took solace in the fact that she didn’t want to retire, she wanted to serve her country and the Commonwealth until she died and that is exactly what she did,” Prue told The Hunter River Times.

Prue was working in London in 2013 when the Queen was scheduled to resign the Charter for the Commonwealth and guests were invited to events surrounding the ceremony.

Former State Member for Upper Hunter George Souris invited Prue to the event with young delegates from each country in the Commonwealth in attendance.

Prue reflects on the sincere generosity of spirit of both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.

On meeting Prince Philip, he enquired her career choice.

“He found out I was a physiotherapist and he suggested I would need strong arms to be a physio and squeezed my arm,” Prue laughed.

The secretary of the Secretary General then, on looking at Prue’s immaculate presentation, told Prue there was a special job for her.

Prue was asked to present a posy to the Queen.

“I walked up to the Queen, curtsied, and placed the posy in her hand,” Prue said.

“On her asking who I was, I told her I was representing Australia and working at Kings College Hospital to which the Queen asked why I would leave Australia?”

The Queen responded: “London is so frightfully cold at this time of year.”

Mr Souris said seeing Prue meet the Queen is easily his favourite Queen memory.

Mr Souris first met the Queen and Prince Philip in 1971 when he was a student at George Souris at Robb College University of NSW England Armidale.

The second time was when the Queen came to Australia in 1994 to declare Randwick Racecourse, Royal Randwick. 

“We were in Dubbo the day before and it was terribly hot and while we were waiting in the marquee, we were told to take our jackets off which we all did,” George said.

“The next minute Prince Philip got out of the car with his jacket on and we suddenly heard a booming voice ‘jackets on’!”

The Queen remembered meeting George in Dubbo the previous day and said: “I met you yesterday, terribly wet wasn’t it,” clearly referring to the hot and humid weather.