Players were reminded not to shake the Queen's hand too vigorously An exuberant Australian rugby player tossed the Queen into the air when she was a child, sparking "mild panic" among those watching, it has emerged. The player apparently had a long lunch before a function where Princess Elizabeth, then just a toddler, encountered him and was sent flying. The story was relayed to the Queen 80 years on as she hosted the current Australian rugby union tour squad. The squad was invited to Windsor Castle ahead of Saturday's match with England. This year is the Wallabies' centenary tour, marking 100 years since the team first visited the UK in 1908, scooping a gold in the London Olympics. 'Memory blank' It was John O'Neill, managing director and chief executive officer of Australian Rugby Union, who reminded the Queen of her 1928 childhood meeting with the player. "She had never heard the story," he said. "She was quick to point out that she would have been about 18 months old. "She said she had no recollection of being thrown in the air. I responded that I wouldn't blame her for blocking it out of the memory bank." Unknown to anyone else, the player had enjoyed a long lunch before the encounter with the young royal. 'Safe hands' When the princess's governess swept in, the manager of the Australian squad helpfully reassured her that his player had the safest hands in the team and never dropped a ball. The Queen remained with her feet firmly on the ground as she met the squad, who towered over her, at Windsor on Monday. Before meeting her, the players were reminded not to shake her hand too vigorously and could be seen carefully practising suitably gentle handshakes among themselves. The team plays England at Twickenham on Saturday.



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