Saskatchewan residents recall interactions with Queen Elizabeth II

Lynn Zakreski was only a child when she first spoke to Queen Elizabeth II, but Zakreski couldn’t understand a word the Queen said to her.

When the Queen visited Saskatoon in 1978, Zabreski was only six years old. Her father was an alderman who requited the youngest children to give flowers to the Queen while she was getting off the plane.

“It was a beautiful day,” Zakreski recalled Friday. “My aunt had made me my dress, and I got my hair done.”

Zakreski said she practised her curtsy many times in the backyard before the event, and was even given a full package on Royal Protocol.

“But the one thing that they did not tell me — and this is before the Internet — is that she spoke with an English accent, and I had not heard an English accent before,” Zakreski said.

When the time to meet the Queen came, Zakreski handed her flowers, and was asked a few questions by the Queen. Zakreski’s mother watched from afar as the Queen began to laugh at what Lynn had said.

After the Queen had passed, Lynn was pulled aside to speak to some reporters on the sidelines.

“The (reporters) had asked me, ‘What was so funny?’ and that’s when I said, ‘I don’t know she doesn’t speak English,’ ” Lynn recalled

Although Zakreski can’t remember what she said to the Queen, she said the laughing started far before her interaction with other members of the Royal Family.

“I had mixed up the names of the princes, which I knew I was also not supposed to do,” said Zakreski. “I called one of them Prince Charles, who wasn’t even there, so everyone chuckled over that.”

Zakreski said she always felt fondly about the Queen after the connection they had that day. When Zakreski heard the news the Queen had passed away, she said it was quite emotional.

“My mother called me crying and I started to cry too,” said Zakreski. “Even now, I don’t know why I’m tearing up.

“There’s something about her presence in this world. There just won’t be anyone else who is like her in our world. For me, she represented what service was, and just a really gracious woman.”

Another Saskatchewan woman said she had a special experience on the same tour in 1978. Margaret Springette said she got to go to a church service with the Queen in attendance.

The service was held at St. John’s Anglican Church in Moose Jaw. Springette said security people searched the entire church before the service began.

Springette said she and her husband booked their tickets long in advance to attend the event. Accompanying the Queen were Prince Philip and Prince Edward.

“It was interesting,” said Springette. “We sang ‘God Save the Queen’ and Philip and Edward sang it loud and clear while she sat primly and listened to us all sing.

“It was just kind of special to be attending church with the Queen of England.”

While Springette said she didn’t get to meet the Queen personally, she did cherish the experience forever.

She remembers the priest of the church at the time telling the media he was glad the Queen made time to go to church even on holidays.

Saskatoon man shares memories

Tony Badger, the owner of Churchill’s British Cafe in Saskatoon, grew up in England and spoke about what the Queen meant to everybody.

“She was a constant for everybody,” Badger said Friday as he held back tears. “I believe she transcended the role.

“She expressed tremendous humanity, and she understood her role. And I would say for a public figure, she remained quite private really, compared to a lot of other public figures these days.”

Badger said one of his fondest memories of the Queen was when he went with his classmates to see her up close.

“For the Queen’s 20th anniversary — you know school closes for the day — we got on the bus, we went to Darlington and got to see the Queen from 20 feet away,” he said, choking up as he remembered how special that day was.

“Certainly at seven years old to see her, I can remember the feeling of that.”

Badger says he will remember her sense of humour from her entrance into the 2012 London Games. He also recalled her Christmas addresses and how they put a wrap on the year and were always optimistic.

But through many emotions, he was happy he got to be a part of her celebrations, even though he didn’t get to attend all of them in person.

“I can only imagine for the year, her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year, and how it was,” Badger said. “I’m just glad the nation got to thank her.”

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Steve Seto