As the longest reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for an incredible 67 years with with her husband Prince Philip by her side.
The Queen has seen sweeping changes and countless historical events since ascending the throne in 1952, but Her Majesty has had one constant companion (aside from the Duke of Edinburgh, of course) throughout her reign: her trademark black handbag.
WATCH the Queen hand her trusty Launer handbag to her lady-in-waiting here!
Famous for her love of bright coloured clothing, the Queen prefers a more sedate shade when it comes to accessories.
The 93-year-old monarch has carried black bags from Launer since the early 1960s, with three avowed favourites: the black leather Royale, the black patent Traviata, and a third black custom bag, The Telegraph reports.
In recent years, the Traviata has become the Queen’s go-to style, Hello! Magazine notes.
Queen Elizabeth is said to own more than 200 handbags, all from Launer, but the royal family’s connection to the British legacy brand started with her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
The Queen Mother first purchased a Launer bag in the 1950s and soon after gifted one to her monarch daughter, marking the beginning of a sartorial love affair that endures to present day.
So great is the Queen’s love of Launer, the company was granted a royal warrant for service to the Crown in 1981.
Launer’s CEO Gerald Bodmer told Town and Country Magazine the Queen orders five custom bags a year, but doesn’t deviate much from the original style of the ’50s.
In an interview with Daily Mail, Mr Bodmer revealed: “She likes a slightly longer handle so it doesn’t get caught up in her clothes when she is greeting people.
“She’s not keen on shoulder straps, zips or partitions…she wants a strap that she can easily get her hand through to lift the lock and access the contents.”
Glamour Magazine claims the Queen carries a small mirror, Clarins lipstick – her go-to brand – mints, reading glasses, a pen, and, only on Sundays, a “crisply ironed £5 or £10 note” for the church collection plate.
The monarch also has a portable hook and suction cup in her bag to hang it from the bottom of a table, The Telegraph reveals.
In 2011, royal historian Hugo Vickers told People Magazine the Queen uses her Launer bags to send secret messages to Buckingham Palace staff and her accompanying aides when she travels.
According to Mr Vickers, when Queen Elizabeth is finished with a conversation, she shifts her bag to the other arm to let her handlers know she’s ready to move on.
If the Queen is especially uncomfortable, she places her handbag on the floor to signal for an emergency exit.
Her Majesty and her trademark bags have met with a long line of great leaders and foreign dignitaries, including former American Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and current US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.
The Queen toted her beloved black bag in her official photo to mark Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s engagement.
Today, Queen Elizabeth takes her signature accessories on days out with members of her extended royal family, including Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and her granddaughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Wear well for many years to come, Your Majesty!
