Andrew Lloyd Webber reflects on his memories with the Queen and says he ‘got to know her off-duty’

Andrew Lloyd Webber reflected on his memories of the Queen ahead of her historic state funeral, revealing he had ‘got to know her off-duty.’

The composer, 74, was speaking to Huw Edwards on the BBC while guests made their way into Westminster Abbey on Monday morning, as he looked back at his first meeting with the monarch and eventually becoming an acquaintance of hers on a more personal level.

He explained that his relationship with the Queen grew after she celebrated her 60th birthday and Lord Lloyd-Webber, famed for The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar, to name a few, was asked by Prince Edward, to write a musical for her. 

He said: ‘Well I suppose my first meeting would have been probably just at various openings but I got to know her rather better when some years ago, well it would have been for her 60th birthday, Prince Edward asked me if I would write a musical, which was performed at Windsor, which I wrote with Tim Rice and that led of course to Edward coming and working in my company.

‘Over the years I got to know her a little bit off duty.’

‘She was always the Queen but it was quite wonderful to have the occasional chat with her sometimes – the odd disagreement, even, but one of the things I was quite amused about was that she didn’t share my love of Victorian architecture… well not particularly of a building by an architect called William Burges.’ 

During the interview with broadcaster Huw, Lord Lloyd-Webber spoke about the significance of today, which has seen 2,000 royals, world leaders, VIPs, and hundreds of members of the public come together at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s state funeral. 

Honoured: Lord Lloyd-Webber looked back at his first meeting with the monarch and eventually becoming an acquaintance of hers on a more personal level 

‘She represented stability’: The composer was speaking to Huw Edwards on the BBC while guests made their way into Westminster Abbey on Monday morning 

He said: ‘It is really a day where we all have to reflect on one of the most remarkable women that anybody will ever see.

‘I think she represented stability at a time when there has been so much change and I think the outpouring that we’ve seen in the last week, I’ve been in New York actually last week and it’s extraordinary, you know, how even there it has deeply, deeply touched people.   

‘All I can say is that I feel very, very, very lucky and privileged to have actually met what has to be probably the most remarkable woman of the past 50 years, 70 years – what more can one say?’  

Days after her passing on September 8, Lord Lloyd-Webber posted a tribute to the late Queen on his Instagram, sharing images of himself and Her Majesty throughout the years.

‘Inspiration to the world’: Days after her passing, Andrew posted a tribute to the late Queen on his Instagram, sharing images of himself and Her Majesty throughout the years

He wrote: ‘For the whole of my life, the Queen has been the constant anchor of not just Britain and her beloved Commonwealth, but an inspiration to the world for her lifetime of service.

‘Her legacy will be remembered as a selfless beacon for love, understanding, and the celebration of fellow human beings all over the world, no matter their race or creed.’

In 2012, Lord Lloyd-Webber and Take That’s Gary Barlow composed the Queen’s official Diamond Jubilee single, Sing.

Earlier this year, Lord Lloyd-Webber was part of the star-studded line-up performing as part of the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace to mark the Queen’s 70-year reign. 

‘Constant anchor’: Remembering the Queen, Lord Lloyd-Webber called her ‘a selfless beacon for love’ and ‘an inspiration to the world’ for her commitment and lifetime of service