‘They just want to record the moment rather than experience it’: Star violinist Nicola Benedetti reveals the late Queen Elizabeth II’s sorrow at being faced with ‘a sea of mobiles’ rather than crowd of faces on her walkabouts
Queen Elizabeth II lamented that the rise of the digital age meant she was greeted by “a sea of mobile phones” on walkabouts, it was announced today.
Over the course of a decade, the late monarch said, she went from being able to meet the public face-to-face to noticing well-wishers taking photos and videos.
Her comments were revealed by award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti, who became the youngest recipient of the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2017 at the age of 29.
Ms Benedetti told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I quote our late Queen, whom I met after winning the Queen’s Medal for Music. She said that her view of the world has been so much influenced by digital devices.
“She used to look out in a sea of people and then, in the last decade or so, she just looked out in a sea of telephones, she told me.
Queen Elizabeth II lamented that the rise of the digital age meant she was greeted by ‘a sea of mobile phones’ on walkabouts, it was revealed today
Over the course of a decade, the late monarch said, she went from meeting the public face-to-face to noticing well-wishers taking photos and videos.
“She talked about the incredible power and importance of music education.
But she also said (playing an instrument in an orchestra) was one of the few times when no one was looking for anything else.
“You have an instrument in your hand and everyone is collectivized around this one thing.
“It requires you to listen louder than you speak or talk.
‘You have to be part of a larger organism. Losing that would be such a heartbreak.”
The violinist received a CBE in 2019 for his services to music.
The late Queen was an early adopter of mobile phones, getting one in 2001. But she is said to have been frustrated by the impact they had on human interaction.
Her comments were revealed by award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti (pictured), who became the youngest recipient of the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2017 at the age of 29.
Ian Lloyd, author of The Queen: 70 Chapters In The Life of Elizabeth II, said: ‘The walkabouts were set up by the Queen in the 1970s as a way for her to meet and interact with the public, but in digital age lacked that eye contact, while mobile phones thwarted that real connection.’
He added: “People would just hold up their camera phones or, worse, their iPads, so she was in front of a wall of screens. They just want to capture the moment instead of living it, and that’s a shame.’
The late Queen also experienced digital interruptions at important events. On one occasion, Clare Short, secretary for international development under Tony Blair, realized she had left her mobile phone on when it rang during a Privy Council meeting. “Oh dear,” said the queen. “I hope it wasn’t important to anyone.” Princess Anne shared her mother’s feelings. In 2018, the Royal Princess said: ‘I’m glad I’m not starting now (to do walkabouts), because at least (before) you had people to talk to – not really now.
“Phones are bad enough, but the iPads, you can’t even see their heads! You don’t know who you’re talking to. I don’t bother, or say, “Look, if you want to meet us, I suggest you put that down!”
‘It’s weird. People don’t think they witnessed the event unless they took pictures. And most of the time you’re right in front of them.’