Queen Elizabeth II handbag was her secret weapon

 Queen's handbag was her secret weapon - hidden messages to staff and mystery contents. 

The Queen was revered for her brilliantly bright outfits, from lime green two-piece suits to lemon yellow polka dot dresses. Her Majesty believed that she had to be 'seen to be believed, choosing to offset her colorful wardrobe staples with an accessory that she was practically never seen without her beloved handbag.

Designed by West-Midlands-based company Launer London for more than 50 years, the late monarch's signature bag boasted a classic boxy style with short handles. Nearly always in black, her purses were small enough to remain practical while shaking the hands of world leaders - but large enough for the monarch's necessities.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.

The contents of the sovereign's handbag have been a talking point for royal fans for decades, as people were desperate to know what was inside the bag that the Queen held so close throughout her 70-year reign.

Far from being simply aesthetic, the Queen's handbag was her secret weapon, as she used it to send hidden signals to staff during high-profile royal visits and official engagements with politicians, world leaders, and celebrities.

Fashion has long been used as a political tool to symbolize power and authority, but the monarch used her trusty accessory as a vessel to subtly send messages to her courtiers.

This proved to be a cunning strategy given all eyes were constantly on the monarch during royal occasions, making it difficult for her to communicate more overtly without offending her guests.

The Queen would tactfully inform her ladies-in-waiting that she wanted someone to come and subtly interrupt the conversation by switching her handbag from one arm to the other, according to insiders.

If she urgently wanted to leave a situation, the Queen would apparently place her bag on the floor.

And according to the Telegraph, if there was a dinner that the late sovereign wanted to end within the next five minutes, she'd pop her purse on the table.

Given there were so many security measures in place for the Queen's high-profile visits, the clever handbag system was practical as well as polite.

Her Majesty was never seen without her beloved handbag, proving further that she enjoyed utilizing it as a subtle aid throughout her reign.

Even when the formal occasion would occur inside one of her royal residences, the late monarch would have a purse in tow.

She was so attached to her accessory that it made an appearance in the official photographs from her final meeting with Liz Truss, in the last public images of the sovereign before she passed away.

The Queen also wore a handbag when swearing in Boris Johnson and Theresa May and greeted Barack and Michelle Obama on their state visit with her purse on her arm.

Owing to the late monarch's penchant for handbags, people have obsessed over what she kept inside them for decades.

Over the years many insiders have shared the secrets of what she carries with her, including a handy compact mirror and her favorite lipstick.

She reportedly only carries money on a Sunday, when she takes a £5 note to drop in the collection pot at church.

A more surprising item is a portable hook, which she uses to discreetly hook the bag under tables when she's out and about so she doesn't have to put it on the floor.

She also carries her reading glasses, mints, and a fountain pen.

Phil Dampier, the author of What's In The Queen's Handbag: And Other Royal Secrets, previously told HELLO! that the monarch carried treats for her beloved corgis, as well as a "crossword cut from a newspaper by a servant in case she has time to kill".

According to Dampier, "One of her most personal and prized possessions in the bag was a small metal make-up case," that Prince Philip gave her as a wedding gift nearly 70 years ago.

Her Majesty thrilled fans when she finally revealed what was inside her handbag during her famous sketch with the fictional children's character Paddington Bear.

During the skit which beautifully captured the Queen's brilliant wit, Paddington says "Perhaps you would like a marmalade sandwich," before admitting that he "always likes to keep one for emergencies".

"So do I. I keep mine in here," the Queen replies, pulling a sandwich out of her beloved handbag before adding "For later".

The sketch, which gives her trusty handbag all the attention it deserves, touched the hearts of the nation, as many have laid marmalade sandwiches as tributes to the late Queen at royal landmarks across the UK.

The Queen's handbag became a symbolic marker for the monarch's image, as it even made an unexpected appearance in a portrait she had done in 2018.

Ben Sullivan, the artist who painted the portrait to mark the RAF Club's centenary, said of the handbag: "It was almost happenstance that it was placed there but it gives some idea there's a person as well as a figurehead - it's personal.

"It's where she put it, and I thought I could take it out, but then I thought - it's quite a nice thing, a personal thing".

In a recent tribute to the late Queen, Proprietor of Launer Gerald Bodmer said that the monarch's outfit was never complete without her famous purse.

"She was a wonderful person to meet - quite normal, but with huge charisma," he said.

"She told me on many occasions I met her she never felt fully dressed without her handbag."

Queen Elizabeth II - Early Life, Husband & Children - Biography

Who Was Queen Elizabeth II?

Queen Elizabeth II became queen on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953. She was the mother of Prince Charles, heir to the throne, as well as the grandmother of Princes William and Harry. As the longest-serving monarch in British history, she tried to make her reign more modern and sensitive to a changing public while maintaining traditions associated with the crown.

Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022, at age 96.

Early Life Queen Elizabeth II :

Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, in London, to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later known as King George VI), and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

At the time of her birth, most people did not realize Elizabeth would someday become the queen of Great Britain. Elizabeth, nicknamed Lilibet, got to enjoy the first decade of her life with all the privileges of being a royal without the pressures of being the heir apparent.

Elizabeth’s father and mother divided their time between a home in London and Royal Lodge, the family's home on the grounds of Windsor Great Park. Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret were educated at home by tutors. Academic courses included French, mathematics and history, along with dancing, singing and art lessons.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister largely stayed out of London, having been relocated to Windsor Castle. From there she made the first of her famous radio broadcasts in 1940, with this particular speech reassuring the children of Britain who had been evacuated from their homes and families. The 14-year-old princess, showing her calm and firm personality, told them "that in the end, all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace."

Elizabeth soon started taking on other public duties. Appointed colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards by her father, Elizabeth made her first public appearance inspecting the troops in 1942. She also began to accompany her parents on official visits within Britain.

In 1945, Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service to help in the war effort. She trained side-by-side with other British women to be an expert driver and mechanic. While her volunteer work only lasted a few months, it offered Elizabeth a glimpse into a different, non-royal world. She had another vivid experience outside of the monarchy when she and Margaret were allowed to mingle anonymously among the citizenry on Victory in Europe Day.

Queen Elizabeth II debuts her white satin coronation gown, designed by Norman Hartnell and and embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.