Queen Elizabeth embarrassed by underwear

Sep 1, 2009, 11:00 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth was too embarrassed to visit an underwear factory.

The 83-year-old monarch was due to visit the plant in Jamaica in 1994, but her advisers rethought the trip when they discovered what was manufactured there.

The story came to light after messages sent by US diplomats were made public under American freedom of information rules.

One note, called 'No undies, we're British', read: "Evidently no one bothered to ask management at the chosen plant in Montego Bay's free zone exactly what sort of garments they assembled. When the answer came back 'women's underwear', the decision was quickly made to move the tour to a T-shirt manufacturing facility (after, presumably, Her Majesty's advance man was revived with smelling salts)."

Another message claims Prince Charles was "the star attraction" at a yearly cultural event which took place in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It adds the 60-year-old royal spent "hours at the camel races, listening to (and stoically remaining awake for) Arabic poetry and ballads".

News of the queen's aversion to underwear will come as a surprise to one set of Lancashire school children, who posted her designs for new knickers she should wear earlier this year.

A school spokesman said at the time: "The designs reflected the concern felt by the children about the queen's comfort and the length of time she has to spend sitting. Many of the designs were fitted with padding and one pair even had an air bag."

The queen's Lady in Waiting Susan Hussy wrote back to the class, saying: "Her Majesty thought it kind of them to take such care with their work and to produce such imaginative designs."