The Queen buys duty free

The Queen stunned shoppers when she visited a duty-free store in Singapore's Changi Airport on her way home from Australia.

Fellow shoppers were amazed to see her buying perfume and cosmetics while Prince Philip chose presents for their grandchildren. The couple were flying home from their two-week Commonwealth tour when they left their Boeing 777 chartered from British Airways, during a one-hour stop for refuelling.

One shopper said: "I could hardly believe it. They were mixing with all the other passengers and there were no special areas cordoned off for them."

A senior courtier paid the bill with a credit card. Another courtier said: "The Queen can't exactly pop down to Oxford Street to do some shopping whenever she wants.

"But a duty-free shopping area in an airport represents a safe environment and is very convenient.

"The Queen and the Duke never buy duty-free drink or cigarettes. It is usually cosmetics and gifts for the children," The Sun reported.