MICHAEL OWEN has revealed he was “b*****ked” by the QUEEN for squeezing into a packed lift with her.
The football legend – who has been squirming this week covering England’s draw in Germany after his daughter Gemma entered the Love Island villa – was left “mortified” after his blunder at Royal Ascot.
Michael Owen has revealed an awkward encounter with The Queen at the famous trackCredit: Getty Images – Getty Michael Owen along with England football stars meeting The Queen at Buckingham Palace in October 1998Credit: PA:Press Association
Detailing the awkward encounter in his book, he wrote: “When she [the Queen] walked into the royal lift there were perhaps 15 of us outside.
“‘Come on,’ she said, ‘We can all squeeze in’.
“I obeyed – taking my hat off as I thought that correct etiquette.
“‘If you’d put your hat back on,’ she said, voice raised, ‘we might all fit in!’
“I sheepishly put my hat on. I was mortified. To this day I have absolutely no idea if she was joking.
“Louise was nudging me from the other side trying not to laugh because I’d been b****ked by the Queen.”
The Liverpool and England legend, who also played for Real Madrid and Manchester United and owns horses himself, also told how he tried to make sure his manners were impeccable during a pre-race meal at Windsor Castle.
He added: “I was careful to hold my fork in the correct hand and so on. I needn’t have worried. The Queen was throwing bits of starter to her corgis!”
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The former striker, 42, made a series of stunning revelations in his 2019 autobiography Reboot – My Life, My Time.
Owen was also confronted with the sad sight of Paul Gascoigne turning up at Real Madrid with his football boots.
He recalls the time soon after he joined Real when Gazza – who would have been 38 and had been retired for several years – suddenly pitched up in Spain.
Owen wrote: “I walked into the reception area at Real Madrid and there, in front of me, was Gazza.
“When I looked closer, he was carrying a pair of football boots. I thought for a split second: What? Have we signed him?
“Then reality kicked in when I rationalised with myself that, as good as he had once been, there was no way that Real Madrid would have signed Paul Gascoigne in 2005.
“All I can say is that Gazza didn’t seem to be in the most stable frame of mind.
“As much as it was great to see him, there was something incredibly sad and poignant about the image of one of my all-time heroes standing in the reception of the Bernabeu holding his football boots.”
Horse-fanatic Michael Owen and wife Louise Bonsall at a chairty polo event in KentCredit: Getty – Contributor Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma is currently starring in the latest series of Love IslandCredit: Tim Stewart Owen made his name playing for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
