Have not been successful in finding out if the following story is
true, though have searched numerous George Burns & Jack Benny sites,
as well as a few celebrity anecdote sites. The story is one of several
in which George Burns makes pal Jack Benny laugh, a contest that went
on between the two for years. This one, I think, is the funniest of
all, though have not been able to verify that it actually happened.

The scene: Buckingham Palace. The event: numerous celebrities have
been invited to meet the Queen, and they're standing in a reception
line. Burns is directly ahead of Benny. As the Queen's equerry
presents Burns to Her Majesty, Burns says "I'm sorry. I didn't get the
name." Benny lost it.

True?

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 15 Sep 2003 04:09 PDT

Dear Nautico,
I have searched extensively for this particular incident without
success. However, I have found a well known entertainer who told a
humourous anecdote involving the three individuals and a reception
line, but it was in a different location. Would you accept this as an
answer or would you like other researchers to try their luck with this
specific conversation?
answerfinder-ga

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Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 15 Sep 2003 04:12 PDT

I'd prefer to wait until tomorrow to see if another researcher can
validate this particular incident between now and then. Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 16 Sep 2003 05:51 PDT

answerfinder-ga

OK, I'll go with your answer. Odds are low anyone else will feel
challenged by this one for $2.

Dear Nautico,
The particular event I have found was referred to in a number of
newspapers upon the death of George Burns in 1995. They all quote
Milton Berle as relating the following incident.

"He would pull pranks on people, and his best audience was Jack Benny.
Jack Benny and Mary, his wife, went to London to play the Palladium,
and on the same show were Burns and Gracie Allen. They did a
performance for the queen. So the show was over, and it is a ritual
that the queen comes backstage with her gloved hands and shakes hands
with all the performers. Now, as she is going down the line shaking
hands, Burns is standing next to Jack Benny and as the queen is coming
down the line, George says to Jack,’ Jack, when the queen approaches
you to shake your hand, don't laugh.'

Well, what happened? The queen comes over and gets to Jack Benny and
she says, You were wonderful, Mr. Benny,' and he says, Ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha, thank you.' "

Source
The Dallas Morning News January 20, 1996,
Palm Beach Post (Florida) January 20, 1996, 

One of Burns' best friends was fellow vaudevillian Jack Benny, who he
would crack up by just looking at him. Berle likes to tell a story
about Benny and Burns meeting the queen of England and Benny bursting
out laughing, simply because Burns told him not to, just when the
queen shook his hand.

Source
USA Today March 11, 1996, 

All of these can be viewed (pay per article $2.50) on the following
news database.
http://web.lexis.com/LNE/login_en.asp?referer_domain=LNE001


Perhaps your version is inaccurate. The London Palladium is a well
known theatre in London and the performance referred to is the Royal
Variety Performance which occurs every year when artists and comedians
from all over the world are invited to perform for the Queen (proceeds
to charity) . At the end of the performance there is a customary line
up and presentation to the Queen. The whole evening is a lighthearted
affair which would be appropriate for this comment.
A Buckingham Palace reception for celebrities doesn’t sound quite
correct, especially as we are talking about pre-1974.

Royal Variety Performance information
http://www.eabf.org.uk/rvp1.htm

I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder

Search strategy
Nothing on Google so I used a news database.

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 16 Sep 2003 08:08 PDT

Sorry this should have been in quotes.
"One of Burns' best friends was fellow vaudevillian Jack Benny, who he
would crack up by just looking at him. Berle likes to tell a story
about Benny and Burns meeting the queen of England and Benny bursting
out laughing, simply because Burns told him not to, just when the
queen shook his hand."
 
Source 
USA Today March 11, 1996,

Thanks!

Dear nautico-ga,
Thank you for the rating and the tip.:)
answerfinder-ga