A Little Happier: A Happy Story about Queen Elizabeth II and the American Tourists

Summary

Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode: A Little Happier: A Happy Story about Queen Elizabeth II and the American Tourists

Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Gretchen Rubin

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Episode Overview

In this “A Little Happier” installment, Gretchen Rubin shares a delightful anecdote about Queen Elizabeth II’s wit and her ability to turn an unassuming encounter with American tourists into a charming and humorous story. The episode’s core theme is the joy found in unexpected moments of connection, humor, and humility—even among icons like Queen Elizabeth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Story (01:45)

• Gretchen sets the scene during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
• A long-time protection officer, Richard Griffin, is prompted by reporters to share memories that showcase the Queen’s personality.

“Around the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, one of her longtime protection officers, Richard Griffin, was asked by reporters for examples of her wit and her charm, and he told this story.”
— Gretchen Rubin (01:45)

2. The Anecdote: An Unforgettable Encounter (01:52–03:13)

• The Queen, accompanied by her protection officer during a walk near Balmoral, encounters two American hikers who don’t recognize her.
• Friendly conversation ensues—one hiker asks the Queen where she lives and how long she’s been visiting the area.
• The Queen replies:

“I live in London, but I've got a holiday home just the other side of the hills... I've been coming up here ever since I was a little girl. So over 80 years.”
— Queen Elizabeth II (as retold by Gretchen Rubin, 02:23–02:49)

• Without ever realizing her identity, the hiker asks if she’s ever met the Queen. With characteristic sly humor, the Queen responds:

“Well, I haven't, but Dick here meets her regularly.”
— Queen Elizabeth II (via Gretchen Rubin, 02:51)

• The protection officer plays along, joking:

“Oh, she can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humor.”
— Richard Griffin (03:14)

• The hiker, still oblivious, hands the Queen his camera and asks her to take a photo of him with the officer. They swap so that Richard Griffin also takes a picture of the tourist with the Queen.

3. The Queen’s Delight in the Moment (03:25–03:42)

• After the tourists depart, the Queen humorously imagines their shock upon learning the truth:

“I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs to friends in America and hopefully someone tells him who I am.”
— Queen Elizabeth II (via Gretchen Rubin, 03:38)

• Gretchen shares her amusement at the image of the tourists showing off a photo of a “very nice woman”—not realizing she's the Queen.

4. Reflection and Takeaway (03:44–04:00)

• Gretchen encourages listeners to find happiness in charming stories and ordinary joys.

“I laugh whenever I think of those hikers coming back home and someone telling them the name of the very nice woman in the photo… I hope this makes your week a little happier.”
— Gretchen Rubin (03:44, 03:58)

5. Listener Advice Segment (04:31–05:34)

• Craig Robinson and Michelle Obama appear (04:04–04:19), prompting Gretchen to share grounding questions for times of life transition:
  • What activities occupy my time but are not meaningful?
  • Am I spending time on something important to others, not me?
  • If I could magically change one habit, what would it be?
  • Would I benefit from more solitude, or more time with friends?
• Gretchen emphasizes the connection between self-knowledge, aligning life with one’s nature, and happiness.

“With greater self-knowledge, we're better able to make hard decisions that reflect ourselves, our own nature, our own interests, our own values. In my own case, I have found that the more my life reflects my nature, the happier I get and the more grounded I feel...”
— Gretchen Rubin (05:06–05:34)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Queen’s Humor:
  “Well, I haven't, but Dick here meets her regularly.” (02:51, Queen Elizabeth II via Gretchen Rubin)
• Protection Officer’s Wit:
  “Oh, she can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humor.” (03:14, Richard Griffin)
• The Queen’s Imagination:
  “I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs...” (03:38, Queen Elizabeth II via Gretchen Rubin)
• Gretchen’s Reflection:
  “I hope this makes your week a little happier.” (03:58, Gretchen Rubin)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Queen’s Story Introduction: 01:45
• Anecdote Begins (Meeting Tourists): 01:52
• Tourist Questions Queen Directly: 02:23
• Queen’s Famous Response: 02:51
• Protection Officer’s Joke: 03:14
• Imagining Tourists’ Reaction: 03:38
• Closing Reflection: 03:58
• Listener Question Segment (Grounding During Change): 04:31

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Tone and Style

Gretchen Rubin’s narration is warm, lighthearted, and gently humorous, matching the whimsical spirit of the story she shares. Throughout, she encourages reflection and joy in life’s simple, surprising, and serendipitous moments. The episode offers a dose of delight, both through the Queen’s unexpected playfulness and through practical, introspective questions for listeners.

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Final Thoughts

This episode invites listeners to savor small, happy stories and to find happiness in recognizing and aligning with their own nature—even during times of transition. Gretchen Rubin’s charming delivery and insightful questions make for an uplifting, memorable “Little Happier.”

Transcript

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[Gretchen Rubin]

Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier There is really no point to this little story other than it makes me happy. And I hope it will make you happy too. Around the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, one of her longtime protection officers, Richard Griffin, was asked by reporters for examples of her wit and her charm, and he told this story whenever the Queen was visiting Balmoral, the British royal family's historic estate in Scotland, she often enjoyed going for a picnic and a walk. Often just her and her protection officer. One day during a walk after a picnic, the Queen and her officer encountered two American hikers on the path. They stopped to say hello to the pair and immediately realized that the tourists didn't recognize the Queen. They all struck up a conversation and One of the hikers asked the Queen where she lived. She answered, I live in London, but I've got a holiday home just the other side of the hills. He asked how long she'd been coming up, and she replied, oh, I've been coming up here ever since I was a little girl.

So over 80 years.

So of course you can guess what the tourist asks next. He says, if you've been coming up here for 80 years, you must have met the Queen. And without breaking a beat, the Queen said, well, I haven't, but Dick here meets her regularly. So the tourist turns to the officer to ask, what's she like? Now, this officer, Richard Griffin, had known the Queen a very long time.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

So he knew he could have some fun with the answer. He replied, oh, she can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humor. In a flash, the tourist moved to stand next to the officer, handed his camera to the Queen, and asked, can you take a picture of the two of us? She did, and then they swapped places, and Richard Griffin took a picture of the tourist with the Queen. After they left, the Queen said to him, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs to friends in America and hopefully someone tells him who I am. I laugh whenever I think of those hikers coming back home and someone telling them the name of the very nice woman in the photo. If you'd like to watch this interview for yourself, I'll post a link in the show Notes. I'm Gretchen Rubin, and I hope this makes your week a little happier.

[Craig Robinson]

Hi, Gretchen. Craig Robinson and my little sister Michelle here we host a new podcast called imo. Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. We know you're the queen of giving advice, so we wanted to get a few tips from you.

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[Gretchen Rubin]

Craig and Michelle, I am so happy to be talking to you. Here are a few questions that might help us gain perspective. So. So consider questions like this. What activities take up my time but are not particularly useful or stimulating for me? Do I spend a lot of time on something that's important to someone else but is not very important to me? If I could magically change one habit in my life, what would I choose?

And here's a question.

Would I like to have more time in solitude, restorative solitude, or would I like to have more time with friends. You know, just thinking about questions like this can help us start to figure out how we might make our lives happier. With greater self knowledge, we're better able to make hard decisions that reflect ourselves, our own nature, our own interests, our own values. In my own case, I have found that the more my life reflects my nature, the happier I get and the more grounded I feel when I'm going through a period of major change or transition. For more great advice, search for IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Wherever your get podcast, you can listen to Issa Rae on letting go of certain friendships, Keke Palmer on why disappointment is actually the key to career success, Seth and Lauren Rogan on caring for aging parents and so many more.