Elizabeth II was greeted by Emanuel Snowman

WHEN Queen Elizabeth embarked on her first ever official engagement in London after her 1953 coronation, she was pleasantly surprised to find a friendly face waiting to greet her.

The late monarch had headed to Hampstead Town Hall on Haverstock Hill – now home to the Weekend Arts College – to be greeted by the then Mayor of Hampstead, Emanuel Snowman. Mr Snowman’s day job was working with precious stones and metals – and he had been given the role as the royal jeweller which meant he had visited the Palace on numerous occasions.

His grandson, Jeremy Robson, told the New Journal: “He would go to Buckingham Palace, especially pre-Christmas, and he met Queen Elizabeth there when she was still Princess.

“‘Hello Mr Snowman’, she said, ‘and how long have you been a mayor?’ “‘Just a little longer than you’ve been a Queen, Ma’am’ was his reply.”

A series of former mayors of Camden paid tribute to the Queen on Monday night including Councillor Jonathan Simpson who remembered her recording her 2010 Christmas Day message at St Mary & St Pancras School.