THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE GOLD CUFFLINKS Chicago’s ‘Dentist to the Queen’
Way back in 1959, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Chicago for 14 hours — and during that small window, the queen went to the dentist. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth had lost a filling in one of her back teeth and needed a dentist to replace it between royal sightseeing stops at places like the Museum of Science and Industry. She chose Dr. Norman Olson, a dentist who practiced out of the nearby Drake hotel. Why Dr. Olson? Talking about the incident years later, Dr. Olson’s daughter told the Chicago Tribune that he was likely selected thanks to his reputation and location. “It was a very secure hotel,” she said. “I’m sure it was easy for the Secret Service and everybody else to guard the place, and in my opinion, my dad was the best dentist in Chicago.” 15 Minutes for a Lifetime of Fame It’s funny to think of a queen in the dental chair, but the way Queen Elizabeth paid for her procedure is even more curious. Reportedly, Dr. Olson declined to charge her for the 15-minute filling fix — so she gifted him a pair of gold-enameled cufflinks for his trouble. The cufflinks were decorated with crowns and the letters “ER” for “Elizabeth Regina.”
From then on, Dr. Olson was nationally known as “The Queen’s Dentist.” According to the Tribune, he never accepted requests for TV interviews about his experience with the queen. But cards addressed to “The Queen’s Dentist” continued to appear in his mailbox long after her visit.
The Making of a Royal Smile In truth, Queen Elizabeth likely had a team of dentists at her beck and call over the years. Fun fact: Even though she passed away at age 96, the queen did not wear dentures. She had all of her own teeth! Queen Elizabeth’s exact dental upkeep appears to be a national secret, but Matthew Rose, an implant surgeon and restorative dentist with The Implant Center, told Express the queen likely invested in cosmetic dentistry like crowns and veneers to keep her smile white. According to The Mirror, the queen herself credited her smile to the fact that she once wore braces.
When it comes to the need for dental work, it turns out the royals are just like the rest of us!
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Winter Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Inspired by Delish.com
Ingredients • 6 1/2 cups potatoes, cut into large chunks • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, sliced • 1 tbsp flour • 2 large carrots, cut into rounds • 1/2 cauliflower, broken into florets • 4 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 sprig rosemary • 15-oz can diced tomatoes plus liquid • 1/2 cup water • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas • Milk, to desired consistency
Directions 1. In a pot, boil potatoes until tender. 2. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, and rosemary and stir until softened. 3. Pour tomatoes into mix and add water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove lid and cook for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in peas and simmer. 4. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in milk to desired consistency. 5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon hot vegetable mix into pie dish, then top with mashed potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown.
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