“I declare this thing open, whatever it is.” (visit to Canada in 1969)

“If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it.” (1986 World Wildlife Fund meeting).

“How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?”(to a driving instructor in Oban, Scotland, during a 1995 walkabout).

“Oh, it’s you that owns that ghastly car is it? We often see it when driving to Windsor Castle.” (Talking to neighbour Elton John’s about his beloved Watford themed Aston Martin, in 2001)

‘Are you asking me if the Queen is going to die?’ (on when the Prince of Wales would succeed to the throne)

“If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she’s not interested.” (on the Princess Royal)

“I’ve just done what I think is my best. Some people think it’s all right. Some don’t. What can you do? I can’t suddenly change my whole way of doing things. I can’t change my interests and the way in which I react to things. It’s part of my style. It’s just too bad, they’ll have to lump it.” (on his reputation)

“Bits are beginning to drop off.” (Approaching his 90th birthday, 2011)

“Tolerance is the one essential ingredient … You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”