'The Queen punched me on the arm and served me my drink. 'There are not many people in the world who can say they were punched by the Queen!' adds Methven. 'I grabbed my arm pretending I was really hurt, going 'The queen just punched me!' She just started laughing and then everyone else did too.

'So I totally over-exaggerated it,' he adds. 'Kate and William were sitting at the end of the table and everybody just looked up as if to say 'The Queen just punched Pipes!'' Scott MethvenĬpl Ben Maher The Queen with Scott Methven and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. The Queen marks 70 years as Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. 'One time the Queen asked me to play the through the woods, as she'd asked the rest of the family to join her for a barbecue,' Scott Methven, who held the prestigious role of Sovereign's Piper - or 'Pipes' for short - from 2015 to 2019, tells PEOPLE about a family event that had a hugely surprising conclusion.

Queen Elizabeth didn't only joke around with Paddington Bear and James Bond.ĭuring her annual summer retreat at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the late monarch made life as fun-filled as possible - and that includes being the brunt of practical jokes herself. ASCOT, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 19: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Queen Elizabeth II watches her horse 'Fabricate' run in the Wolferton Stakes on day 1 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on Jin Ascot, England. Royal piper Scott Methven and his family (wife Morven, daughter Lilly-Grace, and son Fearghas) Credit: Scott Methven.

Bond by Piper Scott