Before developing mutual respect and admiration, Jackie Kennedy reportedly had a surprisingly blunt first impression of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to royal author Caroline Hallemann’s new book, The Kennedys and the Windsors, the future friendship between the American first lady and the British monarch did not begin especially warmly during their first meeting at Buckingham Palace in 1961.
Jackie Kennedy Was Reportedly Underwhelmed
Jackie Kennedy accompanied President John F. Kennedy to Buckingham Palace during an overseas visit to London shortly after JFK entered the White House.
While Jackie was said to be excited about visiting the palace and meeting the Queen, she reportedly walked away slightly disappointed by the experience.
According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, Jackie privately described Queen Elizabeth’s hairstyle in just two words: “too flat.”
The palace itself also reportedly failed to match the glamorous image Jackie had imagined before the visit.
Their Relationship Improved During a Later Meeting
Despite the awkward start, the two women eventually found common ground during another meeting at Buckingham Palace the following year.
Author Caroline Hallemann explained that the pair bonded over a shared passion for horses and horseback riding, something both women deeply enjoyed away from public life.
“They talked at length about horses,” Hallemann said. “That was where they were really able to connect.”
The conversation reportedly helped break down the distance between two women who were often viewed as symbols of elegance, power, and global influence during the 1960s.
Both Women Lived Under Intense Public Pressure
Although Jackie Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth came from very different worlds, historians say the two women shared several unique experiences.
Both were raising young children while living under constant global scrutiny, and both became internationally recognized style icons during a period of major political and cultural change.
Hallemann noted that neither woman technically held political power, yet both played major roles in shaping public image and diplomacy for their families and countries.
The Queen Shared Advice Jackie Never Forgot
One moment from their conversations reportedly stayed with Jackie Kennedy for years afterward.
While discussing the pressure of constant public attention, Queen Elizabeth allegedly offered a quiet piece of advice that resonated deeply with the first lady.
“One gets crafty after a while and learns how to save oneself,” the Queen reportedly told Jackie during a private conversation.
The comment reflected the intense realities both women faced while navigating life under relentless media attention and public expectations.
Two Icons Who Left Lasting Legacies
Although their personalities and backgrounds differed greatly, both Jackie Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II became defining figures of their era.
Jackie was celebrated for bringing glamour, culture, and sophistication to the White House, while Queen Elizabeth spent decades shaping the modern monarchy through stability and duty.
Their relationship may have started with criticism and awkward impressions, but over time, the two women appeared to develop a quiet understanding rooted in shared experience.
