E QUEEN NOT TO BE SEEN

Eels frontman E has received a direct letter of thanks from Buckingham Palace, written by the Queen’s Lady in Waiting, in response to his gig invitation last month.

Having played three times previously at the Royal Festival Hall without the Queen sitting in her royal box, E had hoped Her Majesty might be able to attend his sold-out show this time around.

When she failed to attend, E had to employ a lookalike to realise his dream – getting the Hall’s staff to play along to every detail, and having the audience stand to the national anthem before opening his set.

Buckingham Palace’s response informed E that it would be “impossible” for the Queen to attend, but wished E the best of luck anyway.

Undeterred, E was happy enough with the Queen’s lookalike, and told the NME: “It was truly a thrill to have The Queen in attendance. And she loved the show, by the way.”