In a revealing excerpt from his forthcoming memoir "Unleashed," former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shares an intriguing anecdote about the late Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable awareness of current events. The incident, which occurred in November 2021, involved an RAF F-35 fighter jet crash that the Queen informed Johnson about before his official briefing.
Johnson recounts the episode, stating, "It was she who broke it to me that a very expensive RAF F-35 fighter plane had blown a gasket and dropped off its aircraft carrier and into the drink because someone had left a plastic tray over the air intake." This £100 million aircraft, part of the renowned "Dambusters" 617 Squadron, plunged into the Mediterranean Sea during routine operations from HMS Queen Elizabeth, the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
The former Prime Minister admitted feeling "doubly embarrassed" by the situation, not only due to the incident itself but also because the Queen had informed him before his official briefing. This event underscores the monarch's exceptional level of engagement with current affairs, a trait that Johnson consistently praised throughout his tenure.
The F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft, is part of the most expensive military weapons system in history. The incident prompted a three-week search operation in the Mediterranean Sea, which covers an area of approximately 2.5 million square kilometers. The jet was eventually recovered in "significant large parts," according to the Ministry of Defence.
Johnson further elaborated on the Queen's extensive knowledge, stating, "If I forgot the name of George II's battle or the late prime minister of Zambia, she would immediately snap 'Dettingen' or 'Kenneth Kaunda', like a pub quiz winner." This reference to the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 and Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia's first president who served from 1964 to 1991, exemplifies the breadth of the Queen's historical knowledge.
The former Prime Minister also shared insights from his final meeting with the Queen, which took place just two days before her passing on September 8, 2022. During this conversation, they discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had begun on February 24, 2022. Johnson mentioned the challenges in persuading India to take a firmer stance against Russia.
In response, the Queen recalled a conversation from the 1950s with Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. She quoted Nehru as saying, "India will always side with Russia, and that some things will never change. They just are." This recollection demonstrates the Queen's deep understanding of international relations and her ability to provide historical context to contemporary issues.
"He told me that India will always side with Russia, and that some things will never change. They just are."
Johnson concluded by praising the Queen's "amazing ability to reassure and to contextualise," highlighting her 70-year reign as the longest-reigning British monarch. Throughout her tenure, Queen Elizabeth II conducted over 250 overseas visits, cementing her role as a key figure in international diplomacy.
This anecdote not only sheds light on the Queen's remarkable knowledge and memory but also provides a glimpse into the unique relationship between the monarch and the Prime Minister. It serves as a testament to Queen Elizabeth II's dedication to her role and her profound impact on British governance until her final days.