Royalist or not, there’s no denying Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II was an astounding woman! With the official mourning period now over following her death and the palace easing back into official duties, we’ve had a look at some of the things that the public might not have known about her. From intriguing to downright peculiar, you’ll be surprised and impressed as we unveil 26 fun and unusual Queen Elizabeth II facts.
The woman behind the crown
If you’ve ever wondered about royal life or what the Queen was like behind the fancy frocks, pretty hats, sensational tiaras and crown, these tidbits of information that have been made public over the years will leave you with a smirk.
Who knew she didn’t care for beards, yet Prince Harry was rarely clean-shaven in recent years. So cheeky!
26 Fun and intriguing Queen Elizabeth II facts
1. Queen Elizabeth II never attended school with other children. Instead, she was taught by private tutors at home.
2. With their parents’ permission, The Queen and her sister Margaret danced on the streets of London incognito to celebrate the end of World War II on May 8, 1945.
3. Forget tonic or soda water, the Queen’s favourite drink was reportedly Gin and Dubonnet (a wine apértif) with a slice of lemon and plenty of ice.
4. The Queen didn’t like noisy ice cubes in her glass. She much prefers ice balls, so we’re going to assume that’s what was used in her gin glasses. Cheers!
5. It was believed the Queen apparently drank a glass of champagne every night!
6. Potatoes and soup weren’t ever chosen by the Queen to eat, preferring to steer clear of starchy foods. The carb life was not one for Her Majesty.
7. The queen’s favourite berries were raspberries but she wouldn’t eat them in public in case seeds got stuck in her teeth.
8. The Queen celebrated her birthday twice a year. Her actual birthday was April 21, however, Australia celebrated it in June (and October for Queenslanders). Twice the cake!
9. The Queen’s outfits were all numbered and recorded in a journal for reference so she knew when she last wore a particular outfit. The Queen couldn’t wear the same outfit or the same colour twice in a row!
10. The Queen had someone to break her shoes in for her. Imagine a life without crippling blisters!
11. Speaking of colour, the Queen always wore a bold colour or print on official duty. Her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex once said it was so that she could be easily spotted in a crowd for people “to be able to say I saw the Queen”.
12. “I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am” the Queen was once quoted as saying.
13. Not to be caught out by the wind, the Queen had curtain lead weights sewn into her hemlines to avoid any embarrassing fashion blunders of skirts or dresses blowing up in the wind. Kate Middleton soon followed suit, adding them to hers too.
14. For formal occasions, the Queen almost always wore a hat. Perhaps stemming from old tradition she stands by that women should keep their hair covered – or maybe she just really loved to wear a hat!
15. The Queen always kept a mirror, lipstick, a pen, some mint lozenges and reading glasses on hand. Plus you will also find a hook that she used to hook her handbag to tables. Or if you’re dining with Paddington Bear in a Jubilee sketch, you might also find a marmalade sandwich!
16. It’s also been said the Queen’s handbag was more about sending her staff coded messages. Royal historian Hugo Vickers had once said if the Queen were to move her handbag from one hand to the other, it was a sign she was ready to move on from who she was currently speaking to (cue someone coming to her rescue and moving things along). How discreet – AND CLEVER!
17. Wedge heel shoes also weren’t favoured by the Queen. Though loved by many of the younger members of the royal family, they weren’t to be worn when they were in the presence of the Queen.
18. Colourful nails aren’t allowed. It’s subtle shades of pink or clear polish when on official royal business. The Queen has been wearing the shade ‘Ballet Slippers’ from Essie for 28 years.
19. The Queen’s tiara snapped on her wedding day! The court jeweller was able to repair it in time for the ceremony. PHEW.
20. It’s believed that the Queen had quite an extensive personal collection of around 50 tiaras and crowns. She often lent her children and grandchildren tiaras and jewellery for weddings and occasions. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle both wore one of her tiaras at their weddings!
21. Queen Elizabeth II racked up some serious travel mileage. The monarch made at least 260 official overseas trips during her time as the Sovereign.
22. Apparently, the Queen always had her doctor accompany her staff when she travelled. The doctor was responsible for carrying a medical bag containing emergency supplies and a mobile defibrillator as well as knowing where all nearby hospitals were in case she took ill urgently.
23. The Queen didn’t have to pay taxes, but she did anyway. She voluntarily paid a sum equivalent to income tax on her personal income.
24. Technically, Elizabeth and Philip were third cousins, both related to Queen Victoria. They were married for 73 years before his death in 2021.
25. An avid dog lover, the Queen was gifted her own corgi on her 18th birthday, naming her Susan. She owned more than 30 corgis during her lifetime.
26. Finally, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving British monarch in history, reigning from 1952 to 2022. That’s a beyond impressive life committed to service.
Amazing right? That’s 26 Queen Elizabeth II facts we’ve found! How many of these had you heard before?
An extraordinary woman in our history, Queen Elizabeth II will certainly be missed. Stay tuned to the official British Royal Instagram page for more snippets of the Queen’s reign as well as the latest news and updates on the work of The King, The Queen Consort and The Royal Family.
