What is in the Queen's Handbag?

[Duchess]

i thought this was a cute article from Hello magazine:

Secrets of the Queen's handbag revealed in new book

[sesa]

I've always wondered what she carries in her bag.
I find it very funny that there are pics of her in her own palace, greeting people, and she is carrying her purse????!!!! Which has made me wonder what she carries in there for her to carry it in her own "house".
Once I get home, I dump my purse on the closest corner and don't even glance at it until the next morning as I'm walking out for work.

[CasiraghiTrio]

For his 2002-Golden Jubilee book of photographs of HM, Tim Graham revealed his own observations about her handbag items. He pointed out that HM always has in there some basic makeup items (compact, lipstick) and a spare pair of gloves. Oh and her reading glasses, of course.
He mentioned other things, but I can't remember. It was a library book.

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by sesa

... I find it very funny that there are pics of her in her own palace, greeting people, and she is carrying her purse????!!!!.

i've wondered that too now that you mention it. i know she has police protection at all times but it makes you wonder if she carries anything in her purse for protection as well.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Duchess

i've wondered that too now that you mention it. i know she has police protection at all times but it makes you wonder if she carries anything in her purse for protection as well.

HM blinds Ambassador Whatsit with pepperspray!

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by sesa

I've always wondered what she carries in her bag.
I find it very funny that there are pics of her in her own palace, greeting people, and she is carrying her purse????!!!! Which has made me wonder what she carries in there for her to carry it in her own "house".
Once I get home, I dump my purse on the closest corner and don't even glance at it until the next morning as I'm walking out for work.

But we are not talking about a normal sized house! The servants would be exhausted if they had to run down all those corridors just to get her specs!

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

But we are not talking about a normal sized house! The servants would be exhausted if they had to run down all those corridors just to get her specs!

Watching the Andrew interview yesterday walking through Buckingham Palace, I was reminded just how BIG the place is! Talk about finding spec needles in haystacks!

[Harry's polo shirt]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

But we are not talking about a normal sized house! The servants would be exhausted if they had to run down all those corridors just to get her specs!

They probably have walkies and page someone from one side of the house and they meet someone half way.

[Cordonez]

I recently read an article that said that when she has her handbag on one arm things are well, when the other she is bored and needs rescuing by her LIW. Unfortunately I have returned the book to the library and cannot recall which arm means which. Sorry for those of you who are to meet the queen soon. Just look out for her purse changing arms .

[GillW]

Originally Posted by Cordonez

I recently read an article that said that when she has her handbag on one arm things are well, when the other she is bored and needs rescuing by her LIW. Unfortunately I have returned the book to the library and cannot recall which arm means which. Sorry for those of you who are to meet the queen soon. Just look out for her purse changing arms .

HM Almost invariably carries her bag on her left arm - for one thing that leaves her right free for hand-shaking. So watch out if it is on her right arm!

[wbenson]

Whenever she's undertaking engagements in one of her residences, she may also be somewhat far away from her apartments. It's probably quite a walk through Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

[sesa]

Originally Posted by wbenson

Whenever she's undertaking engagements in one of her residences, she may also be somewhat far away from her apartments. It's probably quite a walk through Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Be that as it may, you would think she would put her purse down on the side of a couch, under her desk, hand it to her LIW or something. But to carry it in her own "house" just seems strange to me. I mean, she actually carries it on her arm. At least to me it's strange.

[Vanishing Lady]

Originally Posted by wbenson

Whenever she's undertaking engagements in one of her residences, she may also be somewhat far away from her apartments. It's probably quite a walk through Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Not to mention she'd cause a bit of a flutter in the everyday functioning were she to be seen rushing back and forth.

Seriously, though. That article was adorable. Until now, I'd never really thought about what the Queen has in her handbag. I don't carry a purse, so I don't give much thought to them.

[Russophile]

I keep photos of my kids in my purse. I'm sure I would keep a photo of my son when he comes back safe from Afghanistan like HM as well!
Boy, what luxury not to keep your passport in your purse! I am always afraid of the stupid thing being stolen and somebody copping my ID!!

[GillW]

Originally Posted by Russophile

I keep photos of my kids in my purse. I'm sure I would keep a photo of my son when he comes back safe from Afghanistan like HM as well!
Boy, what luxury not to keep your passport in your purse! I am always afraid of the stupid thing being stolen and somebody copping my ID!!

As the Queen doesn't have a passport, she doesn't ever have that worry, of course!!

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by GillW

As the Queen doesn't have a passport, she doesn't ever have that worry, of course!!

That's interesting that she doesn't carry a passport. What happens if HM is at a party where they are all impersonating HM?

[iowabelle]

I like the image of the Queen with the meat hook in her purse! (They said she carries it so she can hang the purse off the table and not place it on the floor -- but later on they said she has a secret code with staff, if the purse is on the floor it means "Lady-in-waiting, rescue me from this person!" Maybe the code works when she's not sitting at a dining table?).

[blondie28]

I know the Queen carries lipstick and eye glasses, but I didn't know the other stuff.

[Russophile]

That would be cool Pinkie! I'd plop some cash down for one of their works!

[pinkie40]

I actually got to touch a sample square of some of the blue fabric that had been made especially for Her Majesty The Queen's purse.... They had a photograph of The Queen carrying the purse that was eventually made by the designer who constructed it for her!

Absolutely exquisite...one would have to be royalty to afford even a small amount of this material as every inch had to pass several inspections and go thru multiple processes from horsetail to handbag!