The Queen joined members of her local Women’s Institute in a live game of Pointless hosted by Alexander Armstrong and was on the winning team.

Each year the Queen visits WI members at West Newton village hall as part of her winter stay on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Armstrong, host of the BBC game show Pointless, was this year’s guest speaker and he entertained the 31 members of Sandringham WI with the live game.

The Queen was on the winning team in a game of Pointless played by the Sandringham WI (Picture: PA)

Each year the Queen visits WI members at West Newton village hall as part of her winter stay on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk (Picture: PA)

He said that the Queen is a fan of Pointless, describing her as ‘our most distinguished viewer’.


Speaking after the meeting, Armstrong said the hall was divided into two teams for the game of Pointless, one headed by the Queen and the other by Yvonne Browne, vice-president of the Sandringham WI.



The Queen’s team was victorious in a best-of-five match which finished three-one, he said.

‘I think Her Majesty and the team can be very pleased with themselves tonight and go back covered in glory,’ said Armstrong.

‘I think they can look back over the match and feel rightly proud of what they achieved.’

The Queen, wearing a blue coat and carrying a black bag, arrived at Thursday’s meeting in a Range Rover (Picture: PA)

Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong said that the Queen is a fan of Pointless, describing her as ‘our most distinguished viewer’ (Picture: PA)

He said the Queen gave some answers herself and had ‘some deft, silky Pointless skills’.

He presented Sandringham WI with a Pointless trophy, gave a talk about his journey onto television and sang for the group with piano accompaniment.

‘It’s literally like a dream come true because I think everyone dreams they’ve had tea with the Queen, and it was the most lovely experience,’ he said.

The Queen, wearing a blue coat and carrying a black bag, arrived at Thursday’s meeting in a Range Rover.

Returning to the waiting vehicle afterwards, she told Ms Browne: ‘Thank you for a lovely time.’

Ms Browne said after the meeting: ‘We’ve had a really lovely afternoon.

The Queen also posed for a group photograph, unveiled the branch’s centenary plaque and was given a celebratory cake (Picture: PA)

‘It’s our centenary year and the Queen very graciously said a few words about the fact it was our centenary and she hoped that the fun and friendship would continue into the next century.’

She said the Queen also posed for a group photograph, unveiled the branch’s centenary plaque and was given a celebratory cake.

During her speech to the event, the Queen told her fellow members: ‘Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities.

‘As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.

As head of state, the Queen remains publicly neutral when it comes to political matters and does not express her views on issues.

But her comments about respecting the views of others and trying to seek common ground is likely to be interpreted be some commentators as a veiled reference to the toxic mood of the public debate around Britain leaving the EU.

The Queen joined the Sandringham branch of the WI in 1943 when she was still Princess Elizabeth, and attends each year.