AS the nation continues to mourn the death of Prince Philip an Oxford Muslim leader has recalled an amusing meeting with the Duke.

Dr Hojjat Ramzy met the Duke of Edinburgh at a garden party in Buckingham Palace and was singled out for a personal meet and greet with the Prince.

On meeting him in 2016, the director of Cowley’s Oxford Islamic Information Centre said they chatted about ‘a few things’, including the weather, before he said goodbye.

But as Prince Philip walked away, Dr Ramzy called out to him and said: “Your Highness, you have a gorgeous wife!”

He turned back, laughed, and then shouted: “Go and tell her, go and tell her.”

On meeting The Queen later that afternoon after tucking into some Royal cucumber sandwiches, he confessed he bottled it.

But now he believes it is his mission to pass the message on to Her Majesty.

Speaking of how it happened, he said: “Unfortunately, I missed the chance to stand at the front of the line, but I managed to find a gap near the end of the long line of people, and I squeezed myself in just in time to see the family before they went home.

“As Her Majesty was passing, I bowed my head and then smiled. She smiled back and came over to me and said: “I know you.” I said: “Yes, Your Majesty, you have an excellent memory. We met in Oxford and you helped my school and the students.”

“She asked about the school, students and Oxford and we talked. She glowed with grace. I thanked Her Majesty again for her great help and consideration.”

He went on: “As I was talking, I saw Prince Philip standing a few yards away, watching, waiting to see whether or not I would really tell the Queen what I had said to him earlier.

“It was as though he were waiting expectantly for me to say the words, “Your Majesty, you are gorgeous.”

“Unfortunately, I have to admit, at that moment I lost my nerve. I was unsure how she would react, and of course how the rest of her family, her children in particular, would react if I told their mother she was gorgeous!  

“Her Majesty said good evening, shook hands, smiled, and departed. Prince Philip, I could see, was disappointed in me. He shook his head. He had given me a task, and I’d failed.  

“I was upset for many months that I had let the Prince down by not saying those words. I do believe it was his wish that I tell Her Majesty, from him, that she was gorgeous."

He continued: “Now, with his departure from this world, I would like to fulfil the task he set me, and say, from His Royal Highness Prince Philip, and myself, to Her Majesty the Queen: Your Majesty, you are gorgeous.” 

"Perhaps these words were not meant to be said at that time, perhaps they were meant to be shared after his passing. Who knows! 

"Either way, I do hope that this message will reach the Queen, so that my task is complete. And I hope that if Prince Philip hears this, it will bring a smile to his soul."

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