Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has met the Queen at least five times – and once had a chat with her about dogs.

The Queen was sat next to Mr Rosindell at lunch during her first ever visit to Havering in 2003.

He said: “She started the conversation by asking me what the food was like in the House of Commons and what I thought of the new Parliament session times.

“But when I asked her what her Corgis were like she started telling me all about them and we got talking about dogs.”

The same conversation started Mr Rosindell’s successful campaign to have the Union Flag flown from the Houses of Parliament permanently, after the Queen said she did not know it was supposed to tell her when the Commons were in session.

The MP, who calls himself “a strong royalist”, said the Queen was a “wonderful person”.

He said: “She’s very charming, quite witty and really interested in what you have to say.”

They have also met at Buckingham Palace receptions, garden parties, functions and at the Queen’s Parliamentary address.

Mr Rosindell has celebrated the Diamond Jubilee at street parties and by watching the parade in central London.