A photograph of the Queen meeting the first men on the moon 50 years ago has been placed on the table behind her for her Christmas Day message.
The picture, which was just out of a shot in a preview image released today, shows her meeting Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in October 1969.
The photo of the Queen with the Apollo 11 astronauts at Buckingham Palace could be a nod to Netflix series The Crown, which featured the scene five weeks ago.
Queen Elizabeth II with the Apollo 11 astronauts (from left) Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin at Buckingham Palace in London on October 14, 1969
Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. The picture of her with the astronauts is just off camera, but should be visible in the video message
Their visit to London was part of a tour carried out by the men across 24 countries over 38 days after their successful mission watched by a TV audience of 600million.
After returning to earth on July 24, 1969, they spent three weeks in quarantine then left the US on a tour on September 29 – and arrived in England on October 14.
The group visited the US Embassy in London where they met cheering crowds, and then headed to Buckingham Palace for a meeting with members of the Royal Family.
They were greeted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and their children Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and an enthralled-looking Prince Edward.
Armstrong had been suffering from a cold at the time which left him feeling unwell – and he had even considered skipping the meeting so he could rest.
The Queen meets (from left) Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin at Buckingham Palace on their world tour. Behind them are Prince Edward, Mrs Aldrin and Princess Anne
The Daily Mail’s report on October 15, 1969 carried a picture of Prince Edward shaking hands with Neil Armstrong – and it was headlined: ‘The day the Moon men met a prince’
However, he later recounted of his wife: ‘She told me that if I had to be embalmed, we were going to the palace. She wanted to see the place.’
They made the trip to the palace, but Armstrong then found himself coughing over the Queen – before trying to apologise and then coughing again.
The monarch was said to have held up her hands in a pretend surrender, and she asked about his health when meeting one of his acquaintances weeks later.
Collins also suffered a mishap during the meeting, with Aldrin revealing years later that he had nearly fallen down the stairs trying not to turn his back on the Queen.
Olivia Colman plays The Queen in Netflix drama The Crown – pictured meeting the astronauts
The monarch had previously given Nasa a message for the men to put on the moon, saying she hoped it would ‘increase the knowledge and well-being of mankind’.
But five decades later it emerged she had only reluctantly written the message, with her private secretary at the time noting that she thought it was a ‘gimmick’.
The aide added that it was ‘not the sort of thing she much enjoys doing’ but she did not want to appear ‘churlish’ by refusing the ‘well-intentioned’ invitation.
The Daily Mail’s report the following day carried a picture of Edward shaking hands with Armstrong – and it was headlined: ‘The day the Moon men met a prince.’
Buzz Aldrin poses beside the US flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969
Apollo 11’s crew of (from left) Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, in March 1969
The article read: ‘For Prince Edward, a handshake that will make him the envy of small boys all over the world. Yesterday at Buckingham Palace, he met Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon.
‘Also in the picture waiting to greet the astronaut, are Princess Anne and Prince Andrew. The Queen welcomes Armstrong’s colleague, Michael Collins, and Prince Philip shakes hands with Mrs Armstrong.’
December 1969 also marked the only time the Queen did not deliver a Christmas broadcast, because it was felt that there had already been enough royalty on TV.
This was due to the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle in July and the famous BBC documentary Royal Family, which gave an insight into the Queen’s life.
Buzz Aldrin steps down from the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969
People line 42nd Street in New York City to cheer the Apollo 11 astronauts on August 13, 1969
Episode seven of series three of The Crown focused on the landing and how Philip felt he had underachieved personally – especially when watching the mission.
Tobias Menzies, who plays Philip, said of the episode: ‘Philip gets very absorbed by the heroism of these men compared to what maybe he hasn’t done with his own life.
‘That’s what’s interesting about the show: he takes surprising bits of history and then views the characters through the prism of those events. That was really fun to do.’
The drama also showed the Royal Family putting on a lunar-themed party with space hoppers for Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.