The Queen has been filmed saying Chinese officials were “very rude” during last year’s state visit by President Xi Jinping.
She was discussing their treatment of Britain’s ambassador to China with a senior police officer at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday.
It came after David Cameron was overheard saying Afghanistan and Nigeria were “fantastically corrupt”.
Buckingham Palace said the Chinese visit had been “extremely successful”.
Chinese officials in both London and Beijing also recalled the visit’s “success”.
The invitation to President Xi was part of the government’s policy of courting Chinese investment.
The Queen’s remarks were filmed as she was introduced to Metropolitan Police Commander Lucy D’Orsi, who the monarch is told had overseen security during President Xi’s visit to the UK in October.