A trip down memory lane: Julia Hermon recalls her meeting with Queen Elizabeth II in Canada

Upon hearing about her passing, Julia reminisced about meeting the queen when she was a little girl.

Read about the encounter below.

This story was originally published on September 9, 2022.

History was repeating itself for the Hermon family when Julia met the late Queen Elizabeth II when she was nine years old.

The Bowral resident, who grew up in Canada, had the opportunity to hand the queen a bouquet of flowers when she was in Ottowa in 1992.

She felt "excitement" in the lead-up to the once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Another royal encounter: An encounter with the queen: Bumping into Her Majesty (literally)

"I started being excited because I got to pick out a beautiful dress, had to wear gloves, my hair was done, had to practice a curtsy and greeting to her," she said.

Her mother, Susan Sweeney Hermon, did the same thing when the former monarch was in Canada in 1959.

Susan's father owned a paper mill and was friends with the mayor, who asked if his eldest daughter, who was nine at the time, would present flowers to her.

Years later when the queen made a return to Canada for the 125th anniversary of the confederation, 40^th anniversary of the accession and other visits, her mother penned a letter to Buckingham Palace.

Read also: Bowral's Donald Bradman met Queen Elizabeth II twice in 1948 Ashes tour

She told her story and wondered if there was an opportunity for her daughter to do have the same opportunity, and did when the royal visited the Museum of Civilisation in Ottowa.

"I remember her saying 'thank you dear'," Julia said.

She recalled the Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his wife being present, as well as lots of other people.

Looking back, she also remembered being handed a "beautiful" bouquet full of pink and white flowers.

Shortly after their meeting, Julia went off to summer camp, where one of the staff pulled her aside to say radio stations wanted to speak with her about the experience.

Read also: Residents across the Highlands and Tablelands pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Upon hearing the news of her death on September 9 (AEST), Mrs Hermon "felt a bit sad", and felt like the queen has been a part of her childhood.

"I have always felt a fondness to her and remember well when Princess Diana died," she said.

"She's always been around."

Julia said her mother's phone "rang off the hook" after the news of the late monarch's death broke

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