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Prince Edward Channels Queen Elizabeth's Iconic Wit During Playful Royal Ascot Exchange — Watch

Known for his reserved nature, Prince Edward offered a rare glimpse of his wit while greeting the public at Royal Ascot.

Prince Edward was in the mood for some fun as he rode the carriage on day three of Royal Ascot on June 18. During the carriage procession alongside Princess Anne, Sir Timothy Laurence and Duchess Sophie, he had a light-hearted chat with the public gathered there. After a woman greeted him, the Duke of Edinburgh cheekily asked whether she had been there all week, and where she was hiding her tent. The witty exchange instantly brought back memories of the late Queen Elizabeth's sense of humor, showing just how much her son has learnt her ways. 

In a video posted on Instagram, as Edward's carriage halts, a woman wishes him good afternoon. He then cheekily asked her, "Well, I hope you're all having a lovely day. Have you been here for the last two days as well?... You've been all week, have you? Where's your tent?... Oh, is it hidden by the tree?" referring to the public's long waiting period to see them. After the woman joked that it indeed was, the Duke quipped, "You've done this before," as his carriage ride resumed. His witty exchange was reminiscent of his late mother's quips at public events, where she occasionally let go of her stiff upper lip persona. Watch the video here!

The late Queen famously harbored a funny hidden side. As reported by Showbiz CheatSheet, former royal butler Grant Harrold once shared, "In the early days, I remember the late Queen coming out of the dining room, where we were lined up to meet her following dinner. She came up and stopped in front of me and said something inaudible." He added, "I just looked at her, and she was waiting for an answer. So I said, 'Yes, Your Majesty,' and she went, 'Very good,' and then walked off," later revealing that it was all part of her plan to pull his legs. 

As for Edward and the Queen's bond, the mother and son were particularly close, with royal biographer Matthew Dennison describing him as her favorite son. He wrote in his book, The Queen, "Prince Edward, seemingly a bit wet and a tad irritating to the rest of us, was always his parents' favorite." Known for his loyalty, shy nature, and low-key approach to royal life, Edward remained a steady presence by his mother's side, earning a reputation as one of her and now King Charles's most dependable sources of support.