"A publishing friend remembers being at a party where -- unknown to her -- the Queen

[Elizabeth] was also present and, in fact, standing right next to her. Flinging her arms wide in a conversational gesture, she struck her sovereign full on the bosom.

"'Oh Ma'am,' she gasped. 'I'm so sorry.'

"'That's all right my dear,' the Queen replied. 'When you're as small as I am, you're always hitting people in awkward places!'"