# The Queen's Handbag **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 1, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104 "2007-03-01T00:46:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/1 "2007-03-01T00:46:49Z")
Given that [Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_318.html) on the question of what does the Queen keep in her handbag is currently appearing as a Classic on the front page, I may as well relate my once-upon-a-time failed attempt to use a personal connection to get an answer to this. Some years ago, I happened to learn that [someone I know](http://physicsweb.phy.uic.edu/people/others/display.asp?Name=Bodmer&First=Arnold%20R.&Class=Emeritus) is the younger brother of [Gerald Bodmer](http://www.launer.com/aboutus.php), the handbag maker to Her Majesty. (The most famous of the brothers is however [Walter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Bodmer), the cancer researcher.) As you do if you discover you know the Queen’s handbag maker’s brother, I duly asked whether the family is privy to the much-speculated-about contents. Er, no, they’re not. Apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/2 "2007-03-01T18:26:42Z")
Well, since the Oscar ceremony, I’ll bet the Queen’s handbag contains a thank-you note from Helen Mirren. Or should. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/3 "2007-03-03T18:35:56Z")
Further to Cecil’s column, I’m positive the Queen sometimes carries cash in her handbag when she goes to the racetrack. This is not for normal betting purposes (_i.e._ with the book or the tote) but for occasional private sweepstakes conducted with other members of the Royal Family. This information was once revealed on a TV programme about the Queen in a scene where she made her annual pilgrimage to Royal Ascot along with Prince Philip and other Royals. On the occasion featured she was filmed winning a sweepstake on a particular race and appeared delighted to do so. I can’t give the name of the programme concerned but I’m so sure about this I’d bet money on it. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/4 "2007-03-03T19:21:40Z")
I have it on good authority that it is filled with bricks, to guard against crazy dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/5 "2007-03-04T05:40:44Z")
According to [this site](http://www.anagrammy.com/misc/queen.html): > [@](#): > > The Queen’s handbag contains a Nintendo Gameboy Advance, an irreplaceable 77-year-old Steiff bear called ‘Mister Fuzzy Wuzzy’, ‘The Little Book of Chavspeak’, and (in case Tony Blair calls round for tea), some Clorets. NB: Site may not be reliable 😉 ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2007, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/6 "2007-03-04T06:02:06Z")
…and we (even Englishmen) care because??? I like Corgis and all, but really. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/7 "2007-03-06T22:56:45Z")
[Couldn’t resist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1jL-9S-oD8) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/8 "2007-03-06T23:03:05Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] [Couldn’t resist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1jL-9S-oD8) [/QUOTE] ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7oBU02jtvsA/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/7oBU02jtvsA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/9 "2007-03-06T23:42:24Z")
This seems an appropriate juncture to say that my current office overlooks Her Maj’s back garden, and last week I saw the corgis running around, about 10 of them, accompanied by a woman in a headscarf (it’s not close enough to make out if it was her or not, and we’ve been advised if we turn up at the windows with a camera or binoculars [or gun] we’ll get shot). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/10 "2007-03-07T15:20:34Z")
I’ve always heard that she’s quite fond of her horses and carries little treats for them in her purse. Sugar cubes perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/11 "2007-03-07T22:15:26Z")
I think what’s in there is probably just a small piece of paper with a word written on it; ending with ~gry, but it’s not ‘hungry’ or ‘angry’ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/12 "2007-03-08T04:23:55Z")
And maybe a secret word that rhymes with “orange”? Or the lyrics to “Rio” by Duran Duran? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/13 "2007-03-08T04:54:45Z")
Perhaps HM follows the custom of [the late Queen Louise of Sweden](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Mountbatten), aunt of the Duke of Edinburgh. She used to carry a piece of cardboard around in her handbag on which was written “I AM THE QUEEN OF SWEDEN”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/14 "2007-03-08T06:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] Perhaps HM follows the custom of [the late Queen Louise of Sweden](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Mountbatten), aunt of the Duke of Edinburgh. She used to carry a piece of cardboard around in her handbag on which was written “I AM THE QUEEN OF SWEDEN”. [/QUOTE] Hmmm. To remind herself, I wonder, or to impress strangers? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/15 "2007-03-08T06:19:02Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Hmmm. To remind herself, I wonder, or to impress strangers? [/QUOTE] Supposedly it was when she walked around London, which she did without any escorts. She wanted people to be able to know who she was if she were knocked down by a bus. She was a little eccentric. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/16 "2007-03-08T20:41:29Z")
You’d think she could’ve afforded a set of spiffy business or calling cards, embossed with the royal coat of arms… ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/17 "2007-03-12T09:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Hmmm. To remind herself, I wonder, or to impress strangers? [/QUOTE] Surely if she found some strangers going through her bag she’d give them a slap ,not show them a piece of cardboard saying “I am the Queen”(our Queen is THE Queen like THE President without “of etc.” is always the P.O.T.U.S) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-handbag/394104/18 "2007-03-13T13:24:53Z")
Maybe not. And please don’t call me Shirley.