An outpouring of well-wishes and memories continue to come in ahead of Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 funeral next week. Several workers at Children鈥檚 National Hospital are remembering the monarch鈥檚 visit to the D.C. hospital in May 2007.
鈥淓veryone was a little bit starstruck,鈥� said Judy Ross, a certified child life specialist at the hospital. 鈥淪he was regal.鈥�
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Ross said the hospital sent a slew of emails days before the queen鈥檚 visit, educating workers on the proper do’s and don鈥檛s when meeting the monarch.
鈥淭here were so many emails going around that by the time the queen came to meet our group, everyone was standing there frozen,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淭hey did not know what to do. To curtsy or not to curtsy? Don鈥檛 shake her hand.鈥�
Security was tight that day because the queen was joined by then-first lady Laura Bush and a bevy of dignitaries, said Ross.
鈥淚 had to open all of the cabinets and the dogs came in to sniff out everything,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淭here was a sharpshooter on the rooftop.鈥�
And there were funny moments with Britain鈥檚 longest-reigning monarch, Ross said.
Moments after the White House chef delivered gingerbread cookies, she spotted Queen Elizabeth visiting with a little girl.
鈥淭his one little girl must have been 4 or 5,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淪he was wearing a crown and had a tutu on. And she was decorating cookies with icing with the queen, calling her queenie.鈥�
Ross laughed about the encounter. She says the queen didn鈥檛 seem offended by the child鈥檚 term of endearment and continued decorating the treats.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it registered with them, the depth of meeting the queen,鈥� Ross said of the young patients who were introduced to the monarch. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e young adults now. I鈥檓 sure when the look back, they probably think: 鈥極h, my gosh. I got to meet the queen of England.鈥欌��
Ross was saddened when she learned of Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 passing last week. And her memories of the day she met the monarch came flooding back.
鈥淗er whole life, committed to service. I was just very sad,鈥� Ross said.鈥� I think she was such an amazing person who upheld everything. She is so loved.鈥�
