The Queen has been caught on camera saying Chinese officials were "very rude" during President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the United Kingdom last year.
This rare moment of candor from the usually solidly diplomatic monarch was caught on camera by Buckingham Palace's own staff, as the Queen greeted a senior Metropolitan police officer.
"Oh, bad luck," she says, after hearing commander Lucy D'Orsi had been in charge of security for Xi's visit.
"I'm not sure whether you knew, but it was quite a testing time for me," D'Orsi tells the Queen.
"Yes, I did," she responds.
"They were very rude to the ambassador," the Queen adds, referring to Barbara Woodward, Britain's first female ambassador to China.
The Metropolitan Police said it does not comment on private conversations of officers.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "We do not comment on the Queen's private conversations. However the Chinese State Visit was extremely successful and all parties worked closely to ensure it proceeded smoothly."
Asked about the Queen's comments at a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said "the visit launched a golden era in China-UK bilateral ties."
He added that he had "no knowledge" of any threats to call off the visit, referenced by D'Orsi in her comments to the Queen.
The Queen's remarks were made on the same day as UK Prime Minister David Cameron was caught on camera telling the monarch that Nigeria and Afghanistan were "fantastically corrupt."
Cameron, speaking about an upcoming anti-corruption summit, said they were "possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world."
His remarks caused consternation online, and sparked an angry rebuke from Nigeria's presidential spokesman, who said they were "embarrassing."
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