Queen Elizabeth Kept This Genius Item Inside Her Famous Handbags

Queen Elizabeth wearing a blue coat looking down into her black handbag next to a picture of herself a yellow coat and matching hat in a garden full of flowers while holding a black purse

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 25 February 2025

Queen Elizabeth II was known as much for her trusty handbags as she was for her colorful outfits. While we all recognized the distinctive Launer bags clutched in her white-gloved hand, the contents remained the ultimate royal mystery. Was she carrying Corgi treats? Royally-approved makeup? A secret stash of Cadbury? Over the years, a few tidbits have emerged about what was in The Queen's bag—and one of them makes so much sense.

Along with items like eyeglasses and tissues, it's been revealed that the late monarch kept "a small metal makeup case" that Prince Philip gave her as a gift for their 1947 wedding, as author Phil Dampier told Hello!

Speaking on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential, royal editor Rebecca English also shared some of the items the late Queen loved to carry. "There have been enough little tidbits from staff and people who have sat next to her at dinners over the years, who have seen her open it, to give us a fair idea of what was in it," she shared.

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"Mirror, lipstick, and I know somebody who said that after dinner once, she actually got her compact out and touched on her lipstick, and all of them were like, 'Oh thank god we can do the same.'" However, the late Queen also carried a more unusual tool.

Queen Elizabeth standing in front of a white fence wearing a mint coat and matching hat, holding a black purse and white gloves and laughing — Queen Elizabeth, seen at Royal Ascot 2021, was known for carrying black Launer handbags.

Queen Elizabeth wearing a yellow coat and an ivory purse standing on a red carpet outside Westminster Abbey on William and Kate's wedding day — The Queen caused a stir when she departed from her usual black bag at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

According to English, she was informed by someone that Queen Elizabeth "would sometimes have a little kind of sucker in it," meaning a suction cup. "She didn't like to put her bag down on the floor, and she would use the sucker to hold it to a table or to a wall or something like that," the royal editor explained.

A guest who once attended a dinner with The Queen elaborated on the "sucker," telling The Lady, "I watched The Queen open her handbag and remove a white suction cup and discreetly spit into it."

While seeing The Queen spit at a dinner table must've been quite the sight, the dinner guest continued that Queen Elizabeth "then attached the cup to the underside of the table. The cup had a hook on it, and she attached her handbag to it."

Should you be looking for your own purse-hanging solution, I've rounded up some luxe and everyday options—with no spitting required.

Launer Traviata Leather Tote Bag

Aspinal Handbag Hook

Clipa Bag Hanger

Kwmobile Purse Hanger for Table

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Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.