During her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II met countless world leaders, but she rarely revealed her personal feelings about them especially political figures. However, there is one moment that suggests she wasn’t particularly fond of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Queen met Putin on a few occasions: during her 1994 visit to Russia, and later when he visited the UK in 2003. While Putin reportedly admired Her Majesty sending condolences after her death in 2022 and calling it an “irreparable loss” it seems the feeling was not entirely mutual.
In 2022, David Blunkett, the UK’s former Press Secretary, shared an anecdote that hinted at the Queen’s private view of Putin. Blunkett recalled an official visit in 2003 when his dog barked loudly at Putin. Apologizing to the Queen, he said, “Sorry your Majesty about the dog barking.” To this, she responded with a subtle, four-word remark : “Dogs have interesting instincts, don’t they?”
Many interpreted this as a discreet dig, suggesting the dog sensed something unfavorable about Putin. Adding to the tension, it’s believed the Queen was left waiting for 14 minutes for an engagement with Putin a delay she likely would not have appreciated.
Though the Queen never publicly commented on Putin, these small moments give a rare glimpse into her private judgments of world leaders.
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