Queen Elizabeth's purse?

Question

Why does Queen Elizabeth, who has people to put on her makeup, do her hair, and needs no cash or identification, carry a handbag?

Answer 1

I once read, as well as the stuff mentioned here, that she carries an extra pair of gloves in case the ones she is wearing get soiled.

Answer 2

To tempt purse thieves

Answer 3

This is going to surprise you. The Queen does her own hair and makeup most of the time!She carries lipstick,her glasses,her speech,if needed,a handkerchief,sometimes a cellphone,a comb,and on Sunday's money for Church collections.

Answer 4

Probably a cell phone to call her toilet attendant when she needs to go to the loo.

Answer 5

To carry her cellphone and ipod

Answer 6

I have seen it stated that she keeps her offering for church in it.

It is also a fashion accessory, especially for a woman from a generation where women ALWAYS carried a purse.

Answer 7

Hand bags ,as well as other clothing and accessories, were a sign of status. A nice one meant wealth but most people had none.

Answer 8

Her Majesty does use her handbag as a security blanket. She carries it with her throughout the day as she moves from one room of the palace to another. She is rarely photographed without a handbag. All tables and her desk at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences are equipped with special hooks on which the Queen may hang her ubiquitous handbag. Finally, the Queen never uses a shoulder bag or clutch bag as these make shaking hands and accepting flowers awkward.

It's not only what's inside the monarch's bags that is significant, but the bag itself, for she uses it to communicate with her staff in a very subtle manner. Before dining with the Queen, a point is made to inform guests that dinner will end in about five minutes after she places her bag on the table top. On walkabouts, she holds the bag to one side to show she intends to move on, at which point a lady-in-waiting joins the conversation, allowing her to slip away without causing offence. When at a banquet, if the Queen's bag is placed on the floor, then it's a sign that she's not finding the conversation interesting, and wants nothing more than to escape. However, if the royal bag is dangling happily from the crook of her left arm, she is happy and relaxed.

The Queen carries a comb, a handkerchief, a small gold compact, and a tube of lipstick in her handbag. The Queen does carry money on Sundays--a folded note of unknown denomination which she discreetly places in the collection plate. One thing that can always be found in the Queen's handbags is an S-shaped metal meat hook that she places on the dinner table's edge to suspend her bag from so that it doesn't touch the floor.

Also to be found inside is a collection of good luck charms, including miniature dogs, horses, saddles and horsewhips - most of them gifts from her children, reports the Daily Express. Family photos are also present, the most treasured of which is a snap of Prince Andrew, from when he returned from the Falklands in 1982. Other things that the Queen never goes without are her mints, chocolate drops for her beloved corgis and a couple of crosswords, which her servants snip out of the papers for her. Also ever present is the metal make-up case, made by Prince Philip and presented to her as a wedding gift 60 years ago. And if there's still room in the bag she happens to be carrying, the Queen slips in a camera to take snaps to add to her private

Answer 9

because she can and shes ugly

Answer 10

I've been told that it is a signal to her body guards and people who tour with her.  Held over one arm it means "I want to stay here for a while.  On the other, it means, "get me out of here."  Probably other signals as well.

I don't know.  I was  told  that.  It could be.

Answer 11

Lol, good question.  To be fashionable I guess.

Answer 12

Its considered to be an accesory aswell

Answer 13

Spare pantyhose.

Answer 14

B.E.C. has it right again

And, I'll bet the Queen likes having some of her personal things with her.  I read that she also carries a photo of Prince Andrew taken in the Falklands with her.

best of luck to you!

Answer 15

Candy has it right.

oh, and her glasses, she carries 2 pair.

Answer 16

It's a female thing, bit's and bob's, hankies and the like.