Queen Elizabeth has visited countries all over the globe in her role as leader of the British Royal Family. She is often photographed holding her handbag – most recently spotted when she met new Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Many people often wonder what the Queen carries around in her trusty bag given the sheer number of staff she has. An insider once revealed one very surprising item the monarch keeps in there while travelling.
According to one of Her Majesty’s cousins, Queen Elizabeth carries a portable hook in her handbag.
She’ll take the hook on visits outside of the palace in case she should need to hang her bag up.
The source, Jean Willis, explained that the Queen took care of the whole process – as witnessed in one episode.
Willis was quoted in The Lady magazine in 2012 stating: “I watched the Queen open her handbag and remove a white suction cup and discretely spit into it.
“The Queen then attached the cup to the underside of the table. The cup had a hook on it, and she attached her handbag to it.”
Other – slightly less surprising items – in the monarch’s handbag are reading glasses, a pen, lipstick and tissues.
She also has a crisp £5 note that is often folded neatly to put into the church collection basket.
A source revealed to the Express in 2015: “Her butler irons a five-pound note into a little square by folding it until you can only see her face.”
When travelling the Queen will also take a pair of white gloves – but not just for sartorial reasons.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams explained: “Given the need to shake hands so often they are useful as protection and to stop the spread of infections.”
The gloves have been made by Cornelia James Ltd since 1947 who received a Royal warrant in 1970 for their work with the Royal Family.
A more bizarre item the Queen takes away when going abroad is a personal pack of blood.
The health of the monarch is of course of primordial importance and if the Queen is visiting a country where a reliable blood supply is questionable then a pack of her own blood will be included, always following in their convoy.
This is in case a blood transfusion should be necessary without Queen Elizabeth’s health being jeopardised.
Emergencies will be responded to right away as the Queen’s doctor is always nearby when she travels.
The medical practitioner is a Royal Navy doctor and The Telegraph reports that he will always be carrying a bulky medical bag containing a mobile defibrillator and emergency medicine.