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Queen 'quite amused' at bobsleigh team's Mini push training

The Queen speaking via videocall to, top row, AB Sophie Levy and Gen Sir Nicholas Carter and, bottom row, L/Cpl Shanwayne Stephens and Lt Col Barrie Terry - PA
The Queen speaking via videocall to, top row, AB Sophie Levy and Gen Sir Nicholas Carter and, bottom row, L/Cpl Shanwayne Stephens and Lt Col Barrie Terry - PA

The Queen was left amused as she was told of the Jamaican bobsleigh team's lockdown training: pushing a Mini Cooper around an industrial estate in Peterborough.

She exclaimed "gosh" as she learnt of the fitness regime from L/Cpl Shanwayne Stephens of the Queen's Colour Squadron, remarking: "I suppose that's one way to train."

Appearing on a video call with members of the Armed Forces, the Queen seemed "quite amused" by the tale, L/Cpl Stephens said, adding: "She had a big smile on her face when I said about pushing the car. I think she was quite impressed with that."

The Queen was taking part in her second royal engagement via video call, speaking to Gen Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff, and three members of the Armed Forces to hear how the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were coping during the pandemic.

L/Cpl Stephens, who joined the RAF in 2011 and is based at RAF Northolt, is trained in force protection with a specialisation as a sniper.

The Queen conducted the meeting via a video call from Windsor Castle - PA
The Queen conducted the meeting via a video call from Windsor Castle - PA

He has previously appeared on parade for the Queen, taking part in the RAF 100 celebrations in 2018 and the Festival of Remembrance. But away from his RAF career, he made headlines during lockdown by pushing his fiancée Amy's car around Peterborough to keep up his fitness as part of the Jamaican bobsleigh team.

Asked if the Queen had backed his bid to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he laughed and replied: "I'll have to send her a T-shirt."

The Queen also spoke to AB Sophie Levy, 22, who joined the call from her first operational deployment on board RFA Argus in the Caribbean, and Lt Col Barrie Terry of the Yorkshire Regiment, who is currently deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in Bamako, Mali.

L/Cpl Stephens and Nimroy Turgott push a Mini Cooper around the streets of Peterborough for their training - REUTERS
L/Cpl Stephens and Nimroy Turgott push a Mini Cooper around the streets of Peterborough for their training - REUTERS

"It's very interesting to hear how far spread everyone is in different places," she said. "Obviously everyone has been extremely busy with the pandemic, and doing a wonderful job."

The Queen, whose sign-in name on the screen was "Windsor UK", told them: "Everybody's been extremely busy with the pandemic and doing a wonderful job."

Lt Col Terry said of the Queen: "I think she took to the technology really well, she was very happy, very au fait with it." He added that the Queen understood the separation that comes with serving in the military. "I think with her background, she's used to her grandchildren and her children at various stages of their life being away due to service in the Armed Forces, especially with Prince Philip," he said.