Queen Elizabeth Was ‘Playful’ and ‘Gutsy’ Behind the Wheel, Reveals Former Aide

Samantha Cohen, the former private secretary to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has revealed a lesser-known side of Queen Elizabeth II—her playful and adventurous nature. Cohen, who also worked for the late monarch for 18 years, shared surprising insights about the Queen’s personality in a recent interview.

Known affectionately as “Samantha the Panther” for her professionalism, Cohen described the Queen as having a “gutsy” approach to driving, a fact that might surprise many. According to Cohen, the Queen’s love for cars—particularly Land Rovers and Range Rovers—was well-known among those close to her. However, what most people didn’t know was her penchant for speed. “She was gutsy,” Cohen revealed, adding that the late monarch would often “drive her cars fast around Balmoral,” leaving her passengers “white-knuckled.”

Cohen also recounted how, during her time at Balmoral, her own children would often encounter the Queen in unexpected moments. “Some mornings I’d be getting the cereal for breakfast, and the kids would go, ‘Mum! The Queen just rode past on her horse.’ Other times they’d bump into her on their bicycles,” she recalled, via People. The Queen’s enjoyment of simple family moments and her love of hearing about everyone’s day reflected her warmth and down-to-earth nature.

Cohen went on to emphasize that Queen Elizabeth had “no ego,” calling her the “antithesis of celebrity.” While she was meticulous in her role as monarch, the Queen kept her identity as a person distinct from her royal duties. “She was the maestro. She understood this was her role. She took it very seriously and performed it to perfection. But she knew it was separate to her as a person,” Cohen explained.

Having worked closely with both the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Cohen’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the private world of a monarch who balanced her public duties with a sense of personal joy and modesty. The stories of her speeding through Balmoral and delighting in casual family encounters paint a picture of a woman who, despite her immense responsibility, remained grounded and full of life.