Ex-Aide Shares Surprising Insights into the Monarch’s Adventurous Side
Samantha Cohen, the former private secretary to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who also served Queen Elizabeth for 18 years, has revealed a lesser-known fact about the late monarch's bold and playful side. Cohen, affectionately known as ‘Samantha the Panther,’ shared that the Queen had a “gutsy” nature, surprising many who were unaware of this trait.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Cohen explained that Queen Elizabeth had a love for driving, especially when it came to her Land Rovers and Range Rovers. The Queen was fearless behind the wheel, often speeding around Balmoral, leaving her passengers “white-knuckled” as she handled the car with confidence.
Cohen also recalled charming moments from Balmoral, where her children would excitedly spot the Queen riding past on her horse or encountering her during their bike rides. The Queen, she noted, always enjoyed seeing families having fun and valued hearing about what everyone was up to.
Beyond her adventurous spirit, Cohen described the Queen as the “antithesis of celebrity,” praising her for taking her royal role seriously while maintaining a clear separation between her public duties and personal identity.
