The History Behind the Royal Handbag

The Queen was famously exacting and consistent about what she liked and didn't. Her Majesty had her breakfast sent to her in a Tupperware container; she did her own makeup; and in the evening, she sipped on gin and Dubonnet with ice and a lemon slice. For more than 50 years, British firm Anello & Davide supplied her with the low-heel loafers she wore for state visits, royal tours, and birthdays, broken in by a "flunky" to ensure they were comfortable. However, Her Majesty tested her handbags herself; no staff member was necessary to do so.

The Queen treated her bags like an appendage, always in view no matter the circumstance, and was hardly ever seen without one of her Launer London purses hooked on her arm. Even in her final photograph, where she is seen standing by a fireplace wearing a kilt, a cardigan, a blouse, and her go-to heels, her gleaming Launer handbag is neatly nestled next to her. It became clear from Olivia Colman's portrayal of Her Majesty in The Crown that she frequently carried it around Buckingham Palace as she wandered the corridors or sat on the couch to watch TV.

As much as we like to own stylish handbags in Sri Lanka or purchase women’s bags online, there is certainly a style of Her Majesty’s bags that no one could replace, and any handbag price in Sri Lanka would not duplicate its patent.

Fashion and signals

According to several royal specialists, Queen Elizabeth II used ladies’ handbags as both useful fashion statements and a covert way of communicating with her maids about when she wanted talks to end. The Queen usually had a bag on her arm that complemented her expensive clothing or the situation.

The Queen interacted with important people frequently; thus, the idea that she would employ cunning tactics to depart when she was ready sounds perfectly fitting for her. Concealed handbag signals were not only considerate but also very practical for her workers, who must have wished to take a lot of security precautions. According to royal critic Kristen Meinzer, who appeared on Newsweek's The Royal Report podcast, the Queen would swap her purse from one arm to the other to signal to her ladies-in-waiting that she wanted someone to come and interrupt the meeting.

She preferred custom-made purses with longer handles so they wouldn't catch on her clothing while she went about her business and shook hands with a large number of people. The Queen was observed removing her glasses and choosing her lip colour for the day. She reportedly also brought a mirror and cash in the amount of $5 or $10 for Sunday church offerings.

When seeing the Queen, people were advised against hugging her because it was inappropriate to make physical contact until she extended her hand for a handshake. It is interesting to note that when former first lady Michelle Obama visited Buckingham Palace for the first time in 2011, she was seen putting her arm around the Queen, which sparked headlines throughout the western world accusing her of breaking royal custom. However, the Queen returned the devotion and encircled Michelle with her arm.

The bags were not only a fashion statement.

Queen Elizabeth II was a master of accessorizing. You would be hard-pressed to locate a picture of Her Majesty without one of her famous Launer bags. According to reports, she had more than 200 of them!

However, just as the queen had a few fascinating secrets about herself, there was more to these handbags than met the eye. Queen Elizabeth sent her employees covert messages by slipping them into her purse in a manner reminiscent of James Bond's slick dexterity. (There was also a secret motive for her bright attire.)

She was able to leave talks whenever she wanted thanks to these indications. The queen's handlers would know she wanted to wrap it up if they noticed her shifting her classic handbag from its usual location on her left arm to her right arm while she was conversing with someone. Her decision to drop her luggage to the ground was a warning that she urgently needed to be saved from an awkward situation. She would want to conclude the gathering within the next five minutes if she were at dinner and set it down on the table.

According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, the queen's luggage contained the same items that most women carry around with them: a mirror, lipstick, mint lozenges, and reading glasses. The remainder of the royal family must adhere to their own set of dress standards.

Who designs her handbags?

Since 1968, according to its website, Launer has provided the monarch with bags, making the company qualified to share insider knowledge about them. Her Majesty always has a handbag on her because, according to Launer CEO Gerald Bodmer, "she doesn't feel fully dressed without her handbag." However, Mr. Bodmer said in the same interview that Her Majesty is particular about what she likes or dislikes about a bag. It goes beyond simply finishing her look. The King declared, "The Queen won't wear it if she doesn't like what we have made her." She is undoubtedly aware of her goals.

What did the Queen put in her handbag?

According to Phil Dampier, author of What's In The Queen's Handbag: And Other Royal Secrets, she keeps a variety of items in her purse, including dog treats.

The Queen frequently travels with "treats for her much-loved corgis; sometimes a crossword cut from a newspaper by a servant in case she has time to spend; a penknife, a diary, and a compact camera," according to Dampier in an interview with Hello! Magazine in 2016. She even pulled a marmalade sandwich out of the bag while jokingly nodding to the accessory that was included in the Paddington Bear sketch at the Platinum Jubilee.