Royals Queen Elizabeth Telling Soap Stars 'Life Is a Trouble' Is the Best Thing You'll See Today Queen Elizabeth traveled around greater Manchester on Thursday, visiting the set of the long-running British soap Coronation Street and speaking with community groups at Manchester Cathedral By Lanford Beard Lanford Beard Lanford Beard has been with PEOPLE since 2015. In addition to serving as the Senior Digital TV Editor, she has edited for Lifestyle and News verticals across the site. Lanford previously worked at Entertainment Weekly, NBC News and Ralph Lauren, to name a few. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and a Master's of Science degree from Columbia University's School of Journalism. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 8, 2021 11:58 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Scott Heppell - WPA Pool/Getty Queen Elizabeth has an award-winning TV series based on her life, so when she visited the set of a long-running British soap opera, she had no problem relating to the occasional bit of drama. Touring the set of Coronation Street in Manchester on Thursday for the first time since 1982, the monarch discussed how the show balances its melodrama (or "trouble," as she and the stars called it). "We try to balance the trouble with some niceness, ma'am," said producer Iain MacLeod, "but there' some trouble, I'll be honest." "Well," said the Queen, 95, "I suppose life is a trouble." It's worth noting that, though Corrie (as it's known to fans) is the world's longest-running soap opera, Queen Elizabeth has reigned for nearly a decade longer than the show's 60-year run. And during those many decades leading up to her Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year, she has certainly seen more than her fair share of highs and lows both at home and abroad. During the set visit, the Queen also discussed how the show had resumed and carried out production, filming six episodes a week amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott Heppell - WPA Pool/Getty Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! While up north, the Queen also visited Manchester Cathedral to meet community groups from the region, including youth groups, carers, businesses and volunteers to hear how they have supported others in their communities impacted by the pandemic. Ahead of her expected annual trip to Balmoral next month, the Queen has been keeping a busy schedule in the last few months since the death of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. She was "quite the hit" hosting world leaders at a G-7 summit reception, had tea with U.S. President Joe Biden, held her first in-person audience with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the U.K. first locked down in 2020, proved she's also the Queen of small talk during an audience with German Prime Minister Angela Merkel and even made an appearance at this year's Royal Ascot. Steve Parsons/getty "I always felt that she was never knocked off course," a royal insider shared in the summer issue of PEOPLE Royals. "It's her way to remain as steady as possible." Added royal historian Robert Lacey, "She is making a deliberate point that she is still on top of her game." Get the latest issue of PEOPLE Royals for glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven't seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe at peopleroyals.com/launch Noted a member of her circle: "She understands that she has a job to do, and [Philip] would have wanted her to crack on. She loves to work. She is never idle."