Queen Elizabeth II was secretly huge Strictly Come Dancing fan according to JJ Chalmers-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

It’s always been a wonder how much the Queen knew about pop culture, but it’s now emerged that she was indeed an avid watcher of Strictly Come Dancing. 

Celebrities and public figures have been sharing heartwarming anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth II following her death aged 96 last Thursday. 

The news was announced by Buckingham Palace who said the monarch died ‘peacefully’ at her Balmoral home in Scotland. 

Huw Edwards has been leading the BBC’s coverage of the Queen’s death and the events leading up to her funeral on September 19. 

On Monday, as Her Majesty’s coffin passed through Edinburgh in a procession including King Charles III, broadcaster Edwards was joined by Strictly contestant JJ Chalmers.

Chalmers, 35, competed in the 2020 series of the BBC dancing competition alongside professional dance partner Amy Dowden, but was eliminated in the quarter finals. 

There was always an air of mystery over the Queen’s knowledge of pop culture and TV habits (Picture: Getty Images)

JJ Chalmers, who has links to the Royal Family, competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 (Picture: BBC)

The former Royal Marine also has a pretty strong link to the Royal Family, as his father, John Chalmers, was once the Queen’s Chaplin. 

Reminding viewers of Chalmers’ proximity to the Royals, Edwards said: ‘Lots of viewers will be fascinated to learn, they’ve seen you broadcasting, but they may not be aware you have a family link.’ 

Chalmers confirmed: ‘Yes and it’s a remarkable thing to have a relationship with the Royal Family of my own, and then a relationship my father had for a very long time with The Queen. And some of the occasions I’ve met her were with my father, for example in the grounds of Holyrood there.’ 

The TV presenter was referring to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where the Queen’s coffin was brought to rest after leaving Balmoral Castle on Sunday. 

King Charles III flew over to Edinburgh on Tuesday to attend a procession with his late mother’s coffin (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

The Queen’s coffin has been draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland and the Crown of Scotland (Picture: PA)

The Queen will be laid to rest at her funeral in London on Monday after being flown from Edinburgh (Picture: Getty Images)

Delivering the bombshell revelation about Her Majesty’s TV viewing habits, Chalmers added: ‘And actually, I’ve never said this one, but one of the most lovely things I’ve ever seen was, following the death of her husband my father had obviously written to her and she returned a letter which was typed and had all the expected notes within it, but at the bottom was a handwritten message that said: “I’ve just realised that the JJ Chalmers that I’ve been watching on the coverage of my husband’s funeral is the same JJ Chalmers that you told me of being injured all those years ago”. 

‘And also a line that said: “And the same JJ Chalmers that I enjoyed watching on Strictly Come Dancing”. That’s the great thing.

Strictly Come Dancing fans are wondering if the popular series will launch as planned this weekend (Picture: BBC)

‘So yes she has two things actually, she has an incredible memory but she also watches Strictly Come Dancing.’ 

Strictly fans are currently wondering whether the new series will launch as planned this Saturday, due to the BBC and ITV pulling some of their staple shows out of respect for the Queen and to leave room for coverage of her death. 

This year’s series, its 20th, is expected to begin on Saturday, with 15 celebrities set to take to the ballroom floor to show us their moves.

The line-up was announced in recent weeks and includes presenter Helen Skelton, former EastEnders actor James Bye, The X Factor star Fleur East and former England football captain Tony Adams. 

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford, singer Matt Goss and Ted Lasso actress and comedian Ellie Taylor are all also on the bill.

The Queen is currently lying in state in Edinburgh before her coffin is flown to London on Wednesday, accompanied by daughter Princess Anne, ahead of her funeral on Monday.

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