When did Floella Benjamin meet the Queen? Why did Floella Benjamin meet the Queen?

In an interview with Lauren Laverne, Dame Floella Benjamin discussed meeting the Queen in 2012, when she was the chancellor of Exeter University.

For ten years, Benjamin was Chancellor of the University of Exeter, where she was famous for hugging every graduate and imploring them to “change the world.”

When she stepped down as Chancellor in 2016, the university erected a statue of her in honor of her contributions to the City of Exeter.

Why did Floella Benjamin meet the Queen?

In the interview, Benjamin described sitting with Her Majesty and talking about food, children, the House of Lords – and racism.

Benjamin said:

‘I told her my story. And I said, “Ma’am when I was a little girl in Trinidad I used to sing God Save the Queen but how badly I was treated when I came to England. And now here we are sitting together having lunch. Who would have thought?” We really, really hit it off together, she and I.’

Benjamin did not reveal the Queen’s response.