Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys has shared memories of his childhood in working-class Cardiff, where his father's hostility towards the monarchy left a lasting impression. In a piece for the Daily Mail, Humphrys recalled how his father was expelled from a Conservative club for refusing to sit beneath a portrait of the Queen, and how he ordered the family to stay indoors during a royal visit.
Humphrys, known for his combative interviewing style, described his own early republican views, questioning why the nation revered a family who had 'done nothing to earn their elevated status'. However, his perspective shifted after meeting the Queen in 1975 during her visit to Mexico, where he found her amused by his embarrassment over a piece of toilet paper stuck to his chin.
The broadcaster also recounted a tense encounter with Prince Philip, who accused him of 'stealing my f***ing car' after Humphrys commandeered a vehicle meant for the Duke. Later, during an interview for Philip's 70th birthday, Humphrys angered the Palace by questioning the prince's finances, leading to the BBC cutting the exchange.
Humphrys revealed his long-held ambition to interview the Queen, which he pursued during a private lunch at Buckingham Palace. When he asked if she would consider an interview, she replied: 'What's more, Mr Humphrys, if one were ever to do such a thing, it would most certainly not be with you!'
Despite this, Humphrys remains undeterred, noting that he is awaiting confirmation of an interview with another royal, though not the Queen herself.
