When you’re Queen of England, surprises don’t come around too often.
With her calendar tightly managed and every move meticulously planned, Queen Elizabeth II rarely experienced anything spontaneous — especially on her birthday.
But in 1996, her children wanted to change that.
Prince Edward, in particular, had big plans for her 70th birthday.
He hoped to create a rare moment of surprise by organizing a special family dinner.
Instead of the usual meal at The Ritz Hotel in London — a tradition the Queen cherished — he arranged something far more adventurous.
A Royal Dinner on the River
The idea was charming and unique: the Queen, Prince Philip, and close members of the Royal Family would take a serene boat ride down the River Thames, ending up at the renowned Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire.
It was meant to be a beautiful, unexpected treat — something genuinely different from the Queen’s usual routine.
But unfortunately, the secret didn’t stay a secret for long.
A Journalist Accidentally Spills the Beans
Unbeknownst to him, Daily Mail Editor-at-Large Richard Kay published the story ahead of the big day.
The details were out, and just like that, the element of surprise vanished.
“There was uproar at Buckingham Palace,” Richard later recalled in the Palace Confidential newsletter.
He shared how he was accused of ruining one of the Queen’s few chances at enjoying a surprise celebration.
And given how structured her royal life was, this felt like a big loss to those around her.
The Aftermath Was Awkward
The fallout wasn’t exactly pleasant.
A short while later, Richard found himself covering one of the Queen’s overseas engagements.
During a garden party, he was subtly told to steer clear of Her Majesty — she was still apparently upset about the birthday leak.
So, Richard kept his distance and instead chatted with some of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting.
But even that didn’t go unnoticed.
The next day, one of them let it slip that Prince Philip wasn’t pleased to see them talking to “that bloody man,” as he reportedly put it.
Diana and Fergie Were Blamed — But Didn’t Do It
At the time, speculation was rife that either Princess Diana or Sarah Ferguson had leaked the story to the press.
But Richard is adamant: neither of them had anything to do with it.
In fact, the real source of the leak was far more surprising — but to find out exactly how the story got out, you’d have to dig into the full Palace Confidential newsletter.
Behind the Scenes of the Royal World
Palace Confidential offers more than just a few anecdotes.
It’s a weekly deep dive into the world behind the Buckingham Palace gates.
Every Thursday at 7pm, readers get exclusive insights, stunning unseen photos, and candid commentary from royal insiders.
You’ll also get the chance to send in your own questions to seasoned royal journalists like Rebecca English and Richard Kay.
Whether you’re curious about royal etiquette or behind-the-scenes feuds, nothing’s off-limits.
Free Access to a Regal Inside Scoop
And the best part? It’s completely free.
Each newsletter comes packed with extras — rare archival photos, fun polls, trivia quizzes, and plenty of gossip from inside the royal fold.
It’s the perfect way to stay in the loop with the real stories behind the royal headlines.