Queen Elizabeth's New Portrait Steals Hearts, But Her Handbag Stole The Show

On a crisp Wednesday, October 17th, Queen Elizabeth unveiled a stunning new portrait of herself at the Royal Air Force Club, marking its 100th anniversary. While fans were thrilled to see her elegance in a light blue dress and pearls, it wasn’t the British monarch that grabbed all the attention. Nope, her trusty handbag took center stage this time around! The 92-year-old debuted this masterpiece, painted by Ben Sullivan, and it wasn’t just any ordinary painting. It was a celebration of history and tradition.

Why the Handbag Matters

While Her Majesty looked absolutely regal in the portrait, sitting in the drawing room at Windsor Castle, everyone's eyes were drawn to her black Launer London handbag, resting gracefully on the floor beside her. You see, Queen Elizabeth’s handbag is practically a part of her. It’s her constant companion and rarely makes an appearance in her portraits, except for that one time during her 90th birthday. But this time, the handbag wasn’t just an accessory; it was a symbol of the woman behind the crown. It’s like she’s saying, “Hey, I’m not just a figurehead. I’m a real person too!”

The Queen unveils a new portrait that was commissioned to celebrate 100 years of @TheRAFClub. Started in February 2018 and set in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, the portrait was painted by Benjamin Sullivan – who won the BP Portrait Award in 2017. pic.twitter.com/4ZkETFJrPD

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— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 17, 2018

Benjamin Sullivan, the artist behind this incredible portrait, shared his thoughts after the unveiling. "I think the idea was to capture something of the role of the monarch," he explained. "But I also wanted to get behind that role and show the person. And I really love the fact that her handbag was placed right in front of the gilt chair. It wasn’t planned, but it happened naturally. It shows there’s a person as well as a figurehead. It’s personal. It’s where she put it, and I thought about taking it out, but then I decided—actually, it’s quite a nice touch, a personal touch," he added.

The Queen's Love Affair with Launer Handbags

Let me tell you, Queen Elizabeth isn’t just any handbag enthusiast. Since 1968, she’s owned over 200 Launer handbags. That’s right, over 200! And it’s not just about fashion. These handbags serve a purpose. They’re like her little secret communicators. Royal historian Hugo Vickers once revealed to People that if you're talking to the Queen and her handbag moves from one hand to the other, it’s a signal for her staff to come and rescue her. The handbag is designed with long handles so she can easily shake hands with others. And if she places it on the floor or the dinner table, it’s her subtle way of saying, “Hey, it’s time to wrap this up.” Fascinating, right?

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