Cornwall mum shares childhood memory of Prince Philip lifting her over barrier to meet Queen
Jo Sidney says the duke spotted her in the crowds in Camborne, as she waited with flowers
Last updated 17th Apr 2021
A mum from Cornwall has shared her childhood memory of Prince Philip lifting her over a security barrier to meet the Queen.
Jo Sidney from Brea was 10-years-old when she met Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh during a visit to Camborne.
She has described buying a bunch of flowers and waiting in line for two hours, when the Royal Consort spotted her in the crowd.
"He reminded me of my grandad really - just that kind nature"
"I was stood at the barriers for a good couple of hours waiting for her to come.
"He was walking over and shaking everyone's hand along the front of the barriers. First of all he walked past me and then he turned back around, saw I had a bouquet of flowers in my hand and said 'did you want give those to the Queen?' and I said yes. Then just lifted me up over the barriers, his security guard grabbed my arm, they walked me over to the Queen and she said 'are those for me?' I said yes, did a little curtsey and just quickly passed them over to her and ran back to the barrier.
"He was lovely. He reminded me of my grandad really - just that kind nature. It was no problem for him to lift me over.
"My age, I'm between Harry and William and I think around then, he would have had them around him so maybe it resonated with him having grandchildren. He was kind - like it was no problem to lift me over".
Jo Sidney
Jo is among the millions of people across Cornwall, the UK and the world who were paying tribute ahead of Prince Philip's funeral.
The service was held in the grounds of Windsor Castle at 3pm on Saturday 17th April: Read more.