Selfies may be all the rage but the narcissistic social media craze has reportedly not found favour at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has apparently voiced her dismay that when she carries out engagements she is greeted by a sea of mobile phones.

The monarch, who famously "photobombed" a selfie taken by an Australian sportswoman at the Commonwealth Games, made the comments to US ambassador Matthew Barzun when he presented his credentials at Buckingham Palace in November.

In an interview for the October edition of Tatler magazine, the 43-year-old American said she made the remarks during a "nice chat" they had after the ceremony.

He told the magazine: "She was essentially saying 'I miss eye contact'."

The Queen attracts large crowds when she carries out engagements across the country and is often greeted by a sea of well-wishers straining to take pictures of her, both traditional and selfies.

She hit the headlines when she appeared in a photograph by Australian hockey player Jayde Taylor, smiling in the background over her shoulder as she posed with a team-mate during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.

The Queen was also notably deluged with staff taking camera-phone pictures when she visited New Broadcasting House to officially open the BBC's headquarters in June last year.

Mr Barzun was a key figure in securing US President Barack Obama's two electoral victories.

In between the campaigns, the business executive, a Harvard history and literature graduate, served as US ambassador to Sweden.