Are all these people really here to see me?

Late Queen's sense of modesty and fun.. by one of the aides who knew her best

- RUSSELL MYERS

ONE of Queen Elizabeth II's most trusted aides has spoken of how her legacy will remain for generations to come, as the royal family today commemorates the second anniversary of her death.

To millions around the world, the late monarch was the personification of steadfast duty and service.

But for those who worked behind the palace walls, she will be remembered for her habitual kindness and loyalty.

Ailsa Anderson, who served the Queen for more than 12 years from 2001, says her diligence during her record-breaking 70-year reign was matched only by her humour and sense of fun behind closed doors.

The former government adviser started on a three-year secondment to the Royal Household but ended up staying more than a decade to become the Queen's press secretary.

She admits: "I came into the Household with a slightly cocky demeanour and an air of superiority - I'd worked for three government ministers and I thought this would be a piece of cake.

"But as soon as I was beside Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh it grabbed me by the heart and I understood quickly that hers was like no job on earth - it was a true vocation." During her time as an integral part of the Queen's senior staff, Ailsa took a key role in many high-profile events including two jubilees, the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince George's subsequent birth.