The late Queen ‘loved it when things went wrong because it gave spice to her life,’ says former aide

Queen Elizabeth II “loved” it when things went wrong because it “gave spice to life,” a former aide said.

Samantha Cohen spoke fondly of her relationship with the late Queen in an interview with Australian newspaper The Herald Sun.

Cohen served as the Queen’s press secretary for 17 years and then as her assistant and private secretary, before ceasing to work for the royal household in 2019.

Speaking to the newspaper, he said: “The Queen had no ego, she was very comfortable in her own skin, but she loved it when things went wrong.”

In particular, the Queen loved it when “a cake was not cut” or a “plate was not revealed”, he added.

Cohen said the “best moments” were accompanying the Queen on her two royal tours to South Australia and Queensland in 2002 and 2011.

Ms Cohen was nicknamed ‘Samantha Panther’ due to her pragmatic attitude and was enthusiastic about the Royal Family launching a YouTube account when the idea was suggested.

The former aide spoke to the Queen daily and for almost 10 years had her own bedroom at Windsor Castle.

In 2018, Samantha Cohen worked as a private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Queen’s request.

It was claimed in Valentine Low’s book that Ms Cohen left her position after being treated “harshly” and because it was like “working with teenagers”, but she declined to comment on these claims according to The Herald Sun.

The Duchess of Sussex’s team denied the harassment allegation.

Cohen was once invited to Balmoral for Christmas and said the Queen was a “special woman” and he missed her.

Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Ms Cohen began her career as a journalist at Australia’s Sunshine Coast Daily before working for the Australian government.

She now works as chief of staff to the global chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto.