What the Queen really keeps in her handbag after cameo with Paddington Bear

The Platinum Party at the Palace was undoubtedly an amazing spectacle as thousands of people watched acts such as Diana Ross, Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart, Diversity and Queen perform some of their greatest hits. While this may be the case, it is fair to say that there was another iconic duo who stole the show.

Her Majesty made a special pre-recorded cameo appearance alongside the much loved British storybook character Paddington Bear and enjoyed a rather chaotic afternoon tea with him – much to the delight of the crowds and The Queen’s own family who were watching from the royal box.

The skit saw Paddington drink all of their tea and destroy the cakes before he offered The Queen a marmalade sandwich from his hat. The 96-year-old monarch then had the crowds in hysterics as she revealed that she too kept a marmalade sandwich in her handbag “for later”.

READ MORE: Zara Tindall reveals the Queen ‘will be watching the Derby in her comfy clothes’ from Windsor Castle

Following on from Her Majesty’s brilliant surprise appearance, you may wonder exactly what The Queen keeps in her handbag. According to royal expert Phil Dampier, author of “What’s in the Queen’s Handbag And Other Royal Secrets”, the monarch’s insistence at carrying a penknife is a “throwback to her days as a girl guide”.

In 2016 he told Hello that she packs “treats for her much-loved corgis; sometimes a crossword cut from a newspaper by a servant in case she has time to kill; a penknife, a diary and a small camera”.

According to various sources, the Queen’s bag is also used to carry her glasses, mint lozenges, a fountain pen, a “metal make-up case”- which was reportedly gifted by Prince Philip- and “good luck charms including miniature dogs, horses, saddles and brass horsewhips… and a handful of family photographs”.

While the contents of the Queen’s bag may sound strange, she also uses it to send secret signals to her members of staff. As reported in Grazia , if Her Majesty places her handbag on the table at dinner, staff are to take it as a cue that she wants the event to end in the next five minutes.

If she places it on the floor, it signals that she is not enjoying the conversation she is currently in and wants to be rescued by her lady-in-waiting. Royal historian Hugo Vickers explained that the queen always drapes her handbag over her left arm, so when she switches it, it’s an obvious sign that she’s bored and wants to move along.

Have a story you think we should be covering? Email [email protected].

Let us know how you’re celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in our survey below. Not loading? You can fill out the form here.