Sorry I told the world you love George Formby, Your Majesty, biographer jokes

A Royal biographer has spoken of his regret about revealing the Queen’s love of George Formby to the world, saying she now is doomed to hear ukulele music wherever she goes.

Gyles Brandreth, a friend of the Royal Family who has written extensively on the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, said Formby’s songs had become the “go-to repertoire” for anyone hoping to entertain the Queen.

Writing after a Royal Albert Hall concert to celebrate the Queen’s 92nd birthday, which saw the George Formby Fan Club play When I’m Cleaning Windows led by Frank Skinner, Harry Hill and Ed Balls, he said he must accept responsibility for the choice.

“I'm sure the Queen does enjoy George Formby, but I am not sure he's her 'one and only',” Brandreth said.

“That will make no difference.  

“Once it's in print there's no escape. From now on in, whenever the Queen and music are mentioned together, George Formby will  be part of the story.

“She will have ukulele music wherever she goes.”

The birthday concert was attended by the Queen, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence, along with other members of the extended Royal Family.

Performers, intended to celebrate the Commonwealth, included Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, Sting and Shaggy, with many viewers moved to wonder whether they were necessarily to the Queen’s own taste.

Some viewers had proclaimed themselves confused over the lack of National Anthem, with concert-goers instead giving the Queen a prolonged standing ovation as she took her seat at the Royal Albert Hall.

Where they expected to hear a rendition of God Save the Queen, they were instead treated to a country song from Kylie Minogue, accompanied by dancing cowboys.

One, tweeting his thoughts as the show was broadcast, said he was “disgusted”, while another said it was a “disgrace”.

Organisers said the decision not to play God Save the Queen was not an oversight or a slight, but a deliberate decision designed to create a party atmosphere.

Royal sources said the evening was recognised as an “informal occasion”, while those working on the show for the BBC insisted they have been assured the anthem was not a “requirement”.

Michael Lake CBE, director of the 150-year-old Royal Commonwealth Society which worked to put the event together in honour of its patron the Queen, said the concert was “meant to have the feel of a 'family ' birthday party”, with a view being taken that the anthem “did not fit with that sensitivity”.

Adding that the Queen appearing on stage to rapturous spontaneous applause from the audience had a “good feel” to it, he assured admirers of Her Majesty that it was “certainly not an oversight or a slight of any kind” but a “sensible course of action”.

The Queen, who appeared delighted with her reception at the Royal Albert Hall, amused viewers who watched the broadcast on television by appearing to roll her eyes good-naturedly during a tribute from the Prince of Wales, who called her “mummy”.