Queen Elizabeth's Handbag: What Was Inside

black leather handbag with gold hardware held by person wearing white gloves and blue coat

Queen Elizabeth II carried custom handbags with lightweight grained suede lining, and the contents ranged from reading glasses and a fountain pen to a marmalade sandwich kept in case she got hungry. Her purse was said to be her most prized possession, a comfort blanket she used to manage public life.

What did the Queen carry in her bag?

If you love what is in my bag videos, this is the ultimate one. The essentials included reading glasses, a fountain pen, a handkerchief, mints and a portable hook to hang the bag wherever she went. She carried treats for her corgis and a crossword puzzle, plus a pen knife like a true former girl guide. The nostalgic touches continued with a diary, a small camera for pictures with the people she met and a pair of binoculars for horse races.

To touch up, she carried fuchsia lipstick, the exact color unknown, and a compact mirror, along with a small metal makeup case gifted to her by Prince Philip. She also kept good luck charms, including miniature dogs, horses, saddles and brass horsewhips, mostly gifts from her children, in addition to a handful of family photographs.

What is the marmalade sandwich story?

One iconic bag video moment saw Gigi Gorgeous pull a hammer out of her Balenciaga City bag, but the Queen stating she keeps a marmalade sandwich in her bag in case she gets hungry is next level iconic. To make it even better, all her bags were bespoke with lightweight grained suede lining. She kept a sandwich in her custom purse.

Why was her handbag so important to her?

The Queen did not carry a phone. She had one but did not use it, and while many of us feel lost without a phone, it was said she felt lost without her purse. Her purse was her most prized possession and valued tool, her comfort blanket, and it played a role in managing her public life.

Meet more women who shaped style in Women in Fashion, compare icons in the Birkin size guide, or browse new arrivals.

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