The Queen jokes about her death in conversation Nick Clegg IS happy to divulge

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THE EXPLOSIVE INSIDE STORY OF THE COALITION BY DAVID LAWS, Former Lib Dem Cabinet Minister and key Clegg ally

Published: 17:00 EST, 12 March 2016 | Updated: 03:59 EST, 13 March 2016

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Nick Clegg, as Lord President of the Privy Council, was at Buckingham Palace for one of his regular audiences with Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.

The two of them got on well, and the Deputy Prime Minister was one of a long line of British politicians who were immediately charmed by the Queen’s mixture of diplomacy, great experience and wisdom, discretion and a distinctly dry sense of humour.

‘What is happening in Parliament at the moment?’ asked the Queen. Nick Clegg shifted uncomfortably.

Got on well: Nick Clegg was one of a long line of British politicians who were immediately charmed by the Queen’s mixture of diplomacy, great experience and wisdom, discretion and a distinctly dry sense of humour

‘Well, Ma’am,’ he said, ‘I am not sure that you are going to approve. We are just legislating to change the rules on the Royal succession. For the first time ever in the history of the British monarchy, a first-born girl will succeed to the throne before a later-born boy.’

The Queen was quiet, staring off into the middle distance. ‘I hope this change does not cause difficulties, Ma’am?’ added the Deputy Prime Minister, to break the silence.

‘Good grief, Mr Clegg,’ the Queen said, turning her face back again. ‘By then, I’ll be dead!’

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012, Her Majesty the Queen made a rare visit to Downing Street, and for the first time in her reign, she was going to sit in on a Cabinet meeting. It was all part of the celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee.

Together: Nick Clegg, as Lord President of the Privy Council, had been at Buckingham Palace for one of his regular audiences with Her Majesty the Queen in 2012

The Queen may be an unflamboyant, even low-key personality, but when it comes to star quality, she is in a league of her own. Here were gathered all of the most senior figures in the Government, from the Prime Minister downwards.

Some, such as Ken Clarke, had served in government for decades. But everyone was excited, and perhaps even a little nervous.

Eventually, and on time of course, the Queen arrived, and in a hushed room she walked down the two rows of Ministers – facing each other – gently shaking our hands.

Only when she came to George Osborne did she stop briefly. ‘Ma’am,’ said David Cameron, ‘you will know the Chancellor of the Exchequer – our “money man”.’

'You can all smile now, you know': We were told where to sit or stand for a photograph before a Cabinet meeting in 2012 took place, and naturally the Queen was herself seated right in the middle of the front row

‘Oh yes,’ said the Queen. ‘I think the last time we met we were looking at all those gold bars in the vaults of the Bank of England? Such a pity that so few of them are still ours.’

We were then all escorted next door for a photograph before the Cabinet meeting took place. We were told where to sit or stand, and naturally the Queen was herself seated right in the middle of the front row. It must have been quite a dull shot.

Then, just as we were all about to stand up, the Queen suddenly said: ‘You can all smile, you know.’

The tension was instantly released, and the whole Cabinet roared with laughter. The next day all the newspapers carried a photograph of ‘the laughing Cabinet’. It was an unconventional formal photograph, with some Ministers turning their heads to the Queen.

© David Laws, 2016. Extracted from Coalition: The Inside Story Of The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, by David Laws, published by Biteback Publishing at £25. Offer price £20 (20 per cent discount) until April 3, 2016. Call 0844 571 0640 or visit www.mailbookshop.co.uk. P&P free on orders over £12.