The Queen has been asking dinner guests to give her "three good reasons why Britain should be part of Europe", according to Royal author Robert Lacey.
In an article for The Daily Beast website he wrote: "'Give me three good reasons', she has apparently been asking her dinner companions recently, 'why Britain should be part of Europe?'"
The comments were seized upon by The Sun newspaper, which ran a front page featuring the claim on Wednesday morning.
Mr Lacey said: "The Queen likes a healthy debate around the dinner table. It was just a question.
"She's aware of the complexities for different parts of the UK. As we know, she's very careful not to betray whatever her personal opinions may be on this. You can say the same of her husband."
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen is above politics and acts on the advice of her Government in political matters.
"The referendum is a matter for the British people to decide."
In May the Independent Press Standards Organisation ruled that The Sun had breached press regulations with a front page headline suggesting the Queen was in favour of the UK leaving the EU.
An issue of the paper published in March featured the headline "Queen backs Brexit", leading Buckingham Palace to complain, saying the Queen is "politically neutral".
Editor Tony Gallagher said he did not accept that an error had been made, but agreed to publish the judgement.
Traditionally, the Queen and her family never vote or stand for election.
Although the law does not ban royalty from voting, it is considered unconstitutional for them to do so.
The Queen is due to carry out some engagements in Liverpool on Wednesday
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