Queen Elizabeth II was known for her wicked sense of humour, and those closest to her knew she loved the opportunity to make those around her chuckle.
Throughout her 70-year reign her loved ones and staff have shared examples of her quick wit and anecdotes, as well as members of the public who were lucky enough to meet her. As the world mourns the death of our beloved Monarch, we look back at some of her best one-liners and sassiest comments.
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'When I was here in 1776 ...'
When visiting the White House, then-President George W. Bush accidentally misspoke during a welcome ceremony, stating the Queen had celebrated the US bicentennial in 1776 rather than 1976.
Not wanting to let the mishap slide, the Queen edited her opening speech made two days later by starting it with "I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, when I was here in 1776 ..."
'This house is very big, you know'
A curious guest once asked the Queen why she carries a handbag around Buckingham Palace when moving from room to room.
As quick as a flash she responded with: "This house is very big, you know".
'I'm still alive, anyway'
When visiting Deputy First Minister in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2012, Martin McGuinness greeted the Queen by asking "Hello - are you well?".
Without skipping a beat, the Queen responded with "Thank you very much - well, I'm still alive, anyway."
'Thank you for making me feel so old'
But this wasn't the only time the Queen joked around with high powers as she sarcastically thanked Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, for 'making me feel so old' during a Commonwealth meeting in Malta in 2018.
'Oh look, she's keeled over again'
According to Robert Hardman’s 2011 book Our Queen, the late monarch made a quick-witted remark at an event in 1987 after being made aware that then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was feeling unwell.
Noting how it was not the first time she had suffered during her presence, as she reportedly fainted during their first meeting, the Queen is said to have turned to a guest and said: "Oh look, she's keeled over again."
'I can't write any other way'
In 1991, the Queen was showing Government minister Kenneth Barker a sample of Queen Victoria's journal in Windsor Castle's royal library when she told him she has also kept a diary.
But it was when he asked: "Is it in your own hand?" when the Queen got the last laugh by stating: "Oh yes, I can't write any other way".
'I hope it arrives soon because I'm going on holiday'
The Queen was a busy woman and she made crowds laugh when she reminded them of this.
In the summer of 2013, when Prince William and Princess Kate were just weeks away from welcoming Prince George into the world, the Queen was asked about the upcoming arrival of the royal baby.
Not wanting to give too much away, she simply responded with: "I hope it arrives soon because I’m going on holiday."
'Isn't it good, yes'
When filming The Queen's Green Planet - a 2018 ITV film about the Queen's dream to create a lasting legacy of a network of national forest parks, the Queen was touring the Buckingham Palace gardens with her dear friend David Attenborough.
David noticed a sundial in the garden and remarked: "A sundial, neatly planted in the shade."
Clocking on to the issue in just seconds, the Queen responded: "Isn't it good, yes." She continued: "Had we thought of that? That it was planted in the shade?" It wasn't in the shade originally. Maybe we can move it."
'I've never met the Queen but Dick has'
And who could forget when the Queen pranked two American tourists while on a walk around the grounds of Balmoral Castle.
In an interview with Sky News, her former protection officer Richard Griffin said the pair failed to recognise the Queen and she saw this as an opportunity to have some fun with them.
The tourists asked the Queen, who they thought was another visitor, if she lived in the area and she responded by telling them her house was just "over the hill".
However, she missed out one important detail as to not give the game away.
But they still didn't catch on and proceeded to ask her whether she has ever met the Queen - prompting her witty reply: "Well I haven't but Dick here meets her regularly".
According to Richard, the encounter ended with the pair snapping a selfie with the protection officer before saying their goodbyes and continuing their tour of the gardens.
