On rare occasions, we see Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II without a handy purse. But most of the time, she is seen with an arm candy, which has been one of her trademarks. From attending royal duties to gracing events, the 92-year-old had been accompanied by her trusty bags. However, as much as her preference to always bring her “accessory” wherever she goes, there is only a little knowledge when it comes to the content. Have you ever thought about what is inside that precious hand-carry?
Queen Elizabeth is one of the most influential and powerful personalities in the world today, which means people have found their way to decode everything she does and opts for. Her colorful outfit choice, for example, has a deeper meaning to it. Apparently, the royal needs to sport bright ensembles so that she can be easily seen in a crowd. Apart from her exquisite wardrobe, we can notice that she is mostly carrying her purse during appearances, which you may think is a job that her staff can conveniently do – which brings us to decode the mystery behind it.
Always with a Bag
Often regarded as her “comfort blanket” because she’s almost never seen without it, Queen Elizabeth’s purse is actually more useful than we thought. It is used to send discreet signals to her staff – when she puts the bag on the table during dinner, that means she wants to end the event in five minutes; and when she places it on the floor, that signals to the lady-in-waiting that she’s not enjoying the conversation she’s in and she needs to be rescued.
People | Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite bag is the black Traviata from Launer
But more than that function, the reigning monarch’s bag has the same use as ours – to carry our things. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised to know that the Queen owns a slew of them. According to “What’s In The Queen’s Handbag” author Phil Dampier, Her Majesty has about 300 bags in her closet! Around 30 to 40 of those were from Launer London, which holds a royal warrant to supply bags for her in more than 40 years.
Owning a bag from this brand is no joke – apiece only goes north of $2,000. The company boasts handbags that are made from alligator, soft calf, ostrich, or lizard skin. The Queen’s reported favorite is the black Traviata from the luxury line, which has a longer handle than her other purses, making it easier for her to shake hands easily as the bag dangles on her arm.
What the Queen Doesn’t Bring with Her
So now we know what her favorite bag is and how much most of her collection costs, but what about the things she carries in her purse? What we are sure of is that she doesn’t carry a passport because she doesn’t need it; a lot of keys because obviously someone will open her house for her; and bus ticket stubs, which really doesn’t need an explanation. However, as much as we think that she doesn’t bring stuff that commoners take with them wherever they go, there are some exceptions.
Quora | Far from the common misconception, Her Majesty actually carries things in her bag that are usually found in a commoner’s purse
The Purse’s Contents
It turns out that some of these things were not as royal-sounding as it seems. To summarize everything that her bag allegedly contains, this stuff show just how Her Majesty is practical and family-oriented. Different accounts from ladies in waiting and authors of books about the monarch say that Queen Elizabeth carries with her mints, cutouts of crossword puzzles that her staff got from the newspaper that she can use to kill time, and dog treats for her adorable canines. That’s not all, she also has lucky charms that were given to her by her kids, like miniature horses, saddles, and dogs.
Travel + Leisure | Queen Elizabeth doesn’t mind retouching her makeup in public
Perhaps one of the most important things she keeps safe in her bag is a small makeup case given to her by Prince Philip as a wedding gift. Queen Elizabeth was also caught bringing out her glasses from her purse. At times, she would also bring out a mirror and lipstick for a quick cosmetic fix even during a public gathering. As for money, obviously, she doesn’t need cash, although she allegedly brings folded £5 bills during Sundays for donation.