Prime Minister Scott Morrison tells Queen she was ‘quite the hit’ with world leaders during Windsor Castle visit

An awkward conversation between Australia’s Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth II ended with her brushing off a compliment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told the Queen she was “quite the hit” and “everyone was talking about you” during a visit to Windsor Castle overnight.

The comment appeared to surprise Her Majesty, with footage of the encounter showing her looking at the ground and responding, “Oh Lord, were they really?”

Mr Morrison was on Tuesday UK time the first person received by Queen Elizabeth II in the castle’s Oak Room since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Windsor Castle. Picture: Steve Parsons /AFP

After posing for a photograph, the PM attempted to flatter her by saying “everyone was talking about you” at a G7 dinner at which Mr Morrison was a guest over the weekend.

As he entered the room, the Queen, 95, said: “It’s very nice to see you, in person this time.”

Mr Morrison responded, “Yes, Your Majesty, it’s wonderful to see you”, before he stood next to her after she pointed to a spot on the ground by her left, telling him, “They want to take a photo.”

“So you were down there but I didn’t see you, in Cornwall,” the Queen asked.

“Mr Morrison replied: “No, that was just the G7, Your Majesty. We were sort of an extension party, as they call them.”

Mr Morrison is now on his way to Paris after a visit to the Queen. Picture: Steve Parsons / AFP

A moment’s silence passed before Mr Morrison continued: “You were quite the hit, everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night.”

“Oh Lord, were they really?” the Queen said, staring at the floor.

“They were, they were thrilled to see you,” Mr Morrison concluded.

The PM had attended a dinner with world leaders over the weekend after being invited as a guest to a G7 dinner following its summit.

Boris Johnson exchanging biscuits with Scott Morrison after striking a new trade deal.

He was not invited to the summit itself, at which the Queen was a guest, as Australia is not part of the G7.

During his trip to Europe, Mr Morrison has met also with British counterpart Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden in person for the first time since the pandemic hit.

It was announced on Tuesday that Australia and the UK had struck a free-trade deal allowing more Australians to live and work in Britain once international borders reopen.