Yesterday, the Glendale Retirement Home resident swapped the footpath for a crown and the title of "Queen'' during a visit to Rachel Reynolds Kindergarten.
Third-year early childhood student Hannah Dunn, who has worked at the kindergarten for two years, said the Queen's visit was an annual fixture on the kindergarten's calender, but this year there was a twist.
"The children usually know it is not the Queen because it is usually a staff member dressed up.
"When the staff told me the problem, I said, ‘I think I know the perfect person'.''
Hannah Dunn's mother, Gayleen Dunn, a diversional therapist at Glendale Retirement Home, had spoken to her daughter about Ms Ellis and her ‘‘love'' of the Royal Family.
Gayleen Dunn said it did not take much to convince Ms Ellis to fill the role.
"The whole rest-home has been testing her acting.''
When the "Queen'' arrived at the kindergarten, she was greeted by a rendition of God Save the Queen, sung by children aged between 2 and 5.
The children honoured their special guest with a cake, a giant card, flowers and a haka.
Sitting on her throne adorned with a feather boa, Ms Ellis said she loved her new role.
"When I was a little girl, my mum said, "Come on, Joan, let's get the bus'', and we would stand on the footpath and watch the Queen Mother go by.
"That's how I know the wave, you see.''
Although she had "only just started'' being the Queen, she was not ruling out a return to the kindergarten next year.
"I want to make it to the 100 mark and get the card from the real Queen,'' she laughed.
