The Queen joked about people 'wanting her dead' after she was given two bunches of highly poisonous plants by well-wishers this week.
Her Majesty was touring the RHS Chelsea Flower Show when she was told by a gardener that the lily of the valley was once used as a poison before making the dark quip.
Herb gardener Jekka McVicar explained to the Queen that the flowering plant has the same properties as the toxic digitalis - also known as the common foxglvoe.
Ms McVicar, designer of the St John's Hospice garden at the show, said: "She (the Queen) said, 'I've been given two bunches this week. Perhaps they want me dead'."
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) have small bell-shaped white flowers followed by a small orange-red berry and are highly poisonous.
If ingested the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, reduced heart rate, blurred vision, drowsiness and red skin rashes.
The Queen, who was at the annual famous flower show with her family on Monday, was also given a bunch of fresh herbs to smell, including lemon verbena.
"She said it was lovely," she said.
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