I think she always knew. Her behavior, her dialogue, her reactions to other people, and also the plot makes no sense if she didn’t always know. The whole point of the curse was that the Queen was to get her happy ending by putting everyone else under this curse where they lead sad lonely pathetic lives with no happy endings and no change and no aging. If she didn’t know that seems to throw the plot.
I still question a lot more whether Rumpel always knew. He just seems so confused at times. And there has always been the question about whether or not he remembered only when he heard Emma’s name in Granny’s bed and breakfast. Though i am not sure if the writers will do anything that interesting because making him know was so uninteresting.
@weedith. That scene in Ep 2 where Gold says “I think you think you know exactly who she is” makes no sense in light of the fact that they both know because what else could Gold be talking about then that Emma is Snow and Charming’s child. Though maybe we just need more information. If people have been visiting the real world from fairytale land or crossing over before the curse then maybe Emma could be someone else. I mean we know she isn’t, but it is possible the queen could think she is someone else i guess.