The Queen has a reputation for always stepping out in beautiful outfits, with a sophisticated handbag to match. But far from being a simple fashion accessory, her handbags serve an important purpose. The Queen is said to have a number of secret signals to communicate with royal staff -and many of these involve her handbag.
So if you've ever been chatting with Her Majesty - and spotted her adjusting her accessory, it could be a very bad sign. You see, the secret system is all to do with how she positions her belongings while she is carrying out her duties.
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Take the Queen's private meeting with the Honourable George Brandis back in 2018 for instance.
As you would expect, there were plenty of snaps taken as she met the then Australian High Commissioner to the UK.
And eagle-eyed viewers claim they spotted the Palace's secret signals being used in them.
Luckily it was good news for the guest, according to The Australian.
The Queen placed her bag on a chair - a sign she was is happy to enjoy a prolonged chat.
But had she placed her bag on the table, this would signal she was ready to start wrapping things up.
In the worst case scenarios, a bag placed upon the floor is meant to notify staff the Queen wants to stop the conversation at once.
It is not just her handbags, though. Experts claim the Queen also uses her jewellery to send signals, if she does not have her bag to hand.
A gentle twist of her wedding ring, which would be all but unnoticeable to anyone who did not know to look, is said to mean she wants to make a quick getaway.
Whatever the occasion, the Queen can then rest assured she can communicate with her staff discreetly, thanks to the signals that are so subtle you would struggle to notice them - unless there's a photo to look back on.
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