The Queen was famed for her love of simple accessories - including Anello and Davide block heels, a designer hat, and a handbag made by Launer London. But far from simply accessorising her outfit, it was said that her handbag could be used to convey secret signals to staff - who were well trained to pick up on Her Majesty's cues.
The Queen was rarely seen without her handbag - and was spotted holding it when she welcomed Liz Truss as prime minister to Balmoral last week. Fans were baffled to see the accessory even made it into the official photograph.
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But how was it used?
As Queen, her Majesty spent a lot of time greeting famous people from around the globe - including celebrities, politicians, and of course, the general public.
It seems reasonable that she would need to find a tactful way to convey to her staff that she was ready to be whisked off by her lady-in-waiting from some conversations, without hurting her guests.
It would have also been useful for security measures, given she was one of the most recognised people in the world.
So if you've ever recalled HRH adjusting her accessory when you met her, it could be that she was ready to move on from the conversation. The secret system was said to be communicated in how the Queen positioned her belongings while she was carrying out her duties.
Switching her purse onto her other arm
Author Kristen Meinzer says that switching arms meant the Queen was signalling to her ladies-in-waiting that she wanted someone to come and interrupt the conversation.
Describing how it would work, historian Hugo Vickers said: "It would be very worrying if you were talking to the Queen and saw the handbag move from one hand to the other. It would be done very nicely,” he added, "someone would come along and say, ‘Sir, the Archbishop of Canterbury would very much like to meet you.'”
Putting her bag on the floor
It wasn't great news for the guest, as it reportedly meant she was keen to leave the chat immediately.
Talking to People magazine, Vickers said the Queen spinning a ring on her finger would send a similar message.
Putting her bag on the table
According to the Telegraph, if there was a dinner that Her Majesty wanted to end within the next five minutes, she’d place her bag on the table.
It was easier if her guests happened to be at Buckingham Palace, however, as there was also a subtle secret buzzer she could use to alert staff that it was time for her guests to leave.
Family trick
These sort of subtle maneuvers weren't just employed by the Queen - with Vickers noting that Prince Philip had a similar method.
In order to avoid getting stuck in lengthy chats while meeting several people at once in a line-up, he would use a 'sweeping motion'.
As he would shake a guests hand, he would swing it from left to right, meaning he could move on quickly and efficiently.
Meanwhile, the new Princess of Wales has reportedly used a clutchbag on some public occasions to avoid any awkward handshakes.
And King Charles already has some methods up his sleeve - after all, he's been engaging in public affairs for a long time before becoming King.
"What they all do is try to find a quick joke to leave it on,” notes Vickers. "Prince Charles has a quick ‘ha ha’ and that enables him to break the conversation."
Inside the Queen's handbags
The Queen was said to own more than 200 Launer handbags, and preferred those with longer handle in order to accommodate all the handshaking she did.
But according to close friend and de-facto lady-in-waiting Angela Kelly, the Queen didn’t have a favourite brand. Writing in her book The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, she added: "The weight is very important – given that Her Majesty may have to carry it for some time."
Unlike many of us, they weren't filled with keys, coins and general detritus - after all, she had no use for keys with a doorman, rarely carried cash and never needed to carry a bus ticket.
But in 2012, a royal biographer gave us an insight into what did make the cut - and it included a crisply folded £5 note to donate to the church collection on Sundays.
Sally Bedell Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Woman Behind The Throne , said her bags also had a portable hook, which was used to hang it discreetly under tables.
Writing in The Lady magazine, she said that the handbag usually also contained reading glasses, mint lozenges and a fountain pen, and the weekly church donation on Sunday's - and she rarely carried cash otherwise.
Other important items included a mirror and lipstick. In the article, she commented: "At the end of a luncheon or a dinner, even a banquet set with silver gilt and antique porcelain, she has the somewhat outré habit of opening her bag, pulling out a compact and reapplying her lipstick,” she writes.
"When First Lady Laura Bush made a similar cosmetic fix during a Washington ladies’ luncheon, she cheerily commented, 'The Queen told me it was all right to do it.’”
Royal biographer Penny Junor also previously said that she might have carried a phone, adding: "I don’t know whether it’s a smartphone though.”
Royal handbag expert, Phil Dampier, also claims there were some more sentimental items, including photographs and "a collection of good luck charms given to her by her children, including miniature dogs, horses and saddles, clutter up the bag" he wrote in What's In The Queen's Handbag: And Other Royal Secrets .
* This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get poth pullouts.
