What does Queen Elizabeth keep in her handbag? The answer may surprise you
The British monarch is never seen without her Launer handbag and reportedly owns more than 200 similar purses, but what does she keep inside?
Queen Elizabeth has always been a style icon – colour coordinated in bright hues, she is always seen wearing outfits that match her dresses or suits with her coat, hat and even umbrella.
And don’t forget her handbags. Even at home in Buckingham Palace, the queen carries her handbag to official events leaving us wondering: what does she keep inside it?
According to the book What’s Inside the Queens Handbag?: And Other Royal Secrets by Phil Dampier, the queen does not carry around the usual odds and ends – keys, wallet or phone. But you may be surprised what she does keep with her at all times.
Dampier told Hello! magazine she usually carries treats for her much-loved corgis, a crossword cut from the daily newspaper (in case she has time to kill), a diary, a small camera and a penknife.
It seems the queen gets just as star-struck as the rest of us, as Dampier explains the camera is “to take pictures of visiting presidents and other VIPs”. And the penknife? “A throwback to her days as a Girl Guide”.
But Hello! did its own digging and discovered the queen carries regular daily items such as her reading glasses, a handkerchief, mints, a fountain pen, a small mirror, lipstick and a metal make-up case (which was a gift from Prince Philip). It also reported she carries good luck charms such as miniature dogs and horses, some family photos and a portable hook used to hang her bag under the table.
If you have noticed, Queen Elizabeth usually carries a black Launer bag and has done for more than 50 years. According to The Telegraph, she owns more than 200 Launer handbags, of which three seem to be her favourite: the black leather Royale, the black patent Traviata and a custom handbag, according to Launer CEO and owner Gerald Bodmer.