Sir Paul McCartney has spoken fondly of his early admiration for Queen Elizabeth II, describing the late monarch as a “babe” during her youth. The former Beatles member, now 84, recalled his affection for the Queen when she was crowned in 1953, noting the contrast between the previous king and the new young queen.

McCartney said he was around 11 years old at the time of the coronation and found the young queen, then about 23, captivating. “We always used to think, ‘Wow, this is amazing,’” he said, reflecting on the excitement surrounding her accession. He added that meeting the Queen was a special experience, which occurred when he was in his early twenties.

The musician’s wife, Nancy Shevell, 66, suggested that Queen Elizabeth might have shared a fondness for McCartney as well. “Nancy, my wife now, she says, ‘She fancied you,’” he said, acknowledging that the idea was speculative but something he liked to imagine.

McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1997, an honor that acknowledged his contributions to music and culture. Queen Elizabeth passed away in 2022 at the age of 96 after a reign of over 70 years. McCartney’s reflections add a personal dimension to the relationship between one of Britain’s most significant cultural figures and the long-serving monarch.