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The Queen’s Brexit challenge to dinner guests: ‘give me three good reasons why Britain should be part of Europe’

Although the Sun were only recently found guilty of ‘significantly misleading’ its readers with its ‘Queen backs Brexit’ splash, it seems the red top was onto something after all. While the paper reported that Her Majesty had expressed Eurosceptic views at a private meeting prior to a referendum being on the table, it appears that she does still harbour doubts when it comes to the EU.

The Queen’s biographer, Robert Lacey, reports that Her Majesty has been presenting her dinner guests with a special EU challenge of late. She has reportedly asked dinner companions: ‘Give me three good reasons why Britain should be part of Europe’. Lacey has suggested that the phrasing of the question means that her comments ought to be interpreted as another indication that she backs Brexit.

While the Queen made a rare political intervention ahead of the Scottish independence referendum — asking voters to ‘think very carefully about the future’ — Mr S suspects that David Cameron ought not to hope for a similar effort this time around.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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