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Queen Elizabeth II remains a working royal despite entering into her early 90’s, who still debuts to public delight following husband Prince Philip’s retirement.
The Queen is known for being entrenched in tradition and a unique dress code, appearing in a number of smart and colourful outfits every time she attends an engagement.
It’s nearly impossible to miss the Royal when she’s out and about, as she also dons a colourful range of hats and always wears a pair of gloves.
Her Majesty also keeps the same handbag with her on every outing, and many royal enthusiasts are curious as to why.
Why does the Queen always carry a handbag?
Many people would be forgiven for not noticing one of the Queen’s staple accessories, but the monarch always exclusively carries around a Launer handbag.
Founded in the 1940’s by Sam Launer, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, the brand made matching handbags for the Queen’s shoe brand HM Rayne, the Royal Warrant shoe manufacturers.
These Royal Warrants – officially known as Royal Warrants of Appointment – are issued on behalf of the monarch to traders who supplied the royal court with goods.
In the modern Royal family, these can be bestowed to a company by three members, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Charles.
Those given the warrant are allowed to display the crest with their company, which is seen as a huge honour for chosen businesses.
Launer received their own Royal Warrant in 1968 after continued patronage by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.
To this day, the Queen has favoured Launer as her handbag of choice, hence why she is always pictured carrying one.
The Queen also keeps a number of specific items within her bag which are vital to her daily duties.
Like many others, the Queen apparently carries lipstick, reading glasses, mints, a compact mirror and pen as essential items.
Apart from the odd trinket and a spare £5 and £10 note for church on a Sunday, her extra belongings are carried by her ladies in waiting.
The Queen’s collection of 200 Launer bags are all used to convey a series of secret messages to staff, according to a Royal source.
What messages does the Queen’s bag convey?
Queen Elizabeth’s handbags are important for sending a number of signals to her staff when making a public attendance.
According to Royal historian Hugo Vickers, the Queen places her bag on the table during dinner in order to signal the event should be wrapped up within the next five minutes.
If the Queen moves her handbag from its normal spot on her left arm to her right arm while she’s talking with someone, her handlers know that she wants to end the conversation.
If the Monarch places her bag on the floor, this means she wants a conversation wrapped up immediately, with intervention from her lady in waiting.
Recently, the Queen met with George Brandis, Australian High Commissioner to the UK, where she placed her bag on a chair.
This apparently shows a desire to continue a longer conversation.
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