Queen Elizabeth II has died, for many she is one of the certainty of this world. How will you remember it?

In 1996, it was expected. But he lived to a respectable age. He is a model of how duties are fulfilled and how the interests of the state are prioritized over personal interests. That was why he also enjoyed great respect, like several others. Last time King Edward VII had the same respect. at the beginning of the last century.

Have you met him?

Twice. It was quite funny the first time I was introduced to it. He was introduced to me at a cocktail party by his uncle, who had previously stayed with me at a hotel in Vienna and praised him highly. The Queen was interested and asked about our hotel. So I told him, “We owe you a favor for that. If the British bombs hadn’t hit Schwarzenberg Palace in the attack on Vienna, the conservationists would never have agreed to let me build a hotel there.” He looked at me and said, “You’re the only person thanking me for the bombing.” So I told him we didn’t mind, that we preferred to welcome him because it was aimed at fighting the Nazis.

I met him for the second time when he came to Styria. After World War II, Carinthia and Styria were British zones. And we also met her husband Philip there.

I had previously been to Germany hunting wild boars with him. It was in a mountain hut and a large company was gathered there. Since it was far from everywhere and there was no other entertainment, we put on what was called a play at night. The company is divided into two teams and several personalities or movie characters are chosen, and here one group has to appear and the other has to guess.

As the youngest, I lead a group. And we were given the task of showing the famous film Never on Sunday, where Melina Mercouri played a light girl who fell in love with an American sea captain. And when I got Prince Philip on the team, I thought I would take advantage of that because he also served as sea captain. He played it well and it was a lot of fun. He has a great sense of humour.

This is a huge loss for the UK and the world. Isn’t that symbolic that he’s gone in this terrible year when war broke out in Ukraine?

There’s a bit of symbolism in it. This was certainly a huge loss to the world, as he set an example to everyone on how one should behave. He clearly showed in his life that the higher God raised a person, the more responsibility he should have and the more example he should set.

And will Prince Charles, now Charles III, be a worthy successor thereafter?

He was raised for it. And when I got to know him when I met him a few times, I thought he would behave in an exemplary and responsible way. She will definitely be a little “greener” than Queen Elizabeth.

But I guess you can’t expect him to be as hot as he is?

We must not forget that she was lucky enough to ascend the throne as a beautiful 26 year old girl, and becoming king at seventy is quite another. Besides, he always stood a bit behind.

It probably helped Queen Elizabeth a lot because she took the throne after the war, where she herself served as driver.

Of course. Can’t believe how long it’s been. Its first prime minister was Winston Churchill, and just last week he appointed a new prime minister, Liz Truss.

Can he be compared to anyone among the crowned heads?

Probably not. He is unique.