Queen Elizabeth II Always Does This Particular Thing When Greeting Important People

When Queen Elizabeth II formally asked Boris Johnson to be the new Prime Minister, fans of the royal family noticed something strange about the photos taken from the Buckingham Palace meeting. The British monarch was seen holding a particular handbag instead of setting it down. While the Queen is known to use this bag when she goes places, it left people wondering why she didn't put it aside inside her own residence.

The black bag, which she has owned for over 50 years, was slung over her left arm when she shook Johnson's hand with her right.

While it remains unclear why Queen Elizabeth II didn't set the bag down, the behavior has seemingly become a pattern with her when greeting important individuals, according to Mirror. The monarch did the same thing when she greeted former Prime Minister Theresa May and the Obamas. Therefore, the act of her holding her purse should not come as offensive to any party in her presence as it seems to be standard procedure.

The bag, which has an emblem on the front that makes it easily recognizable to fans of her fashion, has also made an appearance in a portrait that was painted to commemorate 100 years of the RAF club.

Award-winning artist Ben Sullivan discussed the inclusion of the bag in the painting with Daily Mail in 2018, saying, "And I really like the idea her handbag was placed in front of the gilt chair. It was almost happenstance that it was placed there but it gives some idea there's actually a person as well as a figurehead - it's personal."

As to what she keeps in the accessory, insiders claim she carries lipstick, a compact mirror, reading glasses, mints, a fountain pen, and on Sundays, she may take money with her to put in the collection at church. One unusual item that she may take with her is a hook that is used to discreetly hang it beneath a table so that it doesn't touch the floor.