Queen Elizabeth always has a handbag when she's out and about in public. She carries around her favorite go-to Launer London black purse, with that slightly longer handle than regular clutches so that it falls on her forearm so easily.
Her granddaughters-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, have emulated the Queen's style as a clutch-toting royal. But why do these famous women need to carry a handbag when they have the staff to follow them around and carry their things? What's inside the handbags of the Queen, Kate, and Meghan?
According to Us Weekly, Queen Elizabeth has doggie treats for her pups and mints for herself and Prince Philip inside her purse. Sometimes, she also has a crossword puzzle cut-out, or her reading glasses, and a tiny mirror.
Kate, on the other hand, fills her tiny clutch bag with a lip balm, a compact kit to powder her nose, and a handkerchief. However, there are times when the Duchess of Cambridge prefers to carry a slightly bigger bag if she has to bring sunglasses and some cash.
Meghan once went to a royal event wearing a crossbody clutch bag, which the press hailed as breaking a tradition. Inside her purse, Meghan has a pen, a hand sanitizer, and a mascara, as well as a pair of must-have sunglasses.
But why must it be a clutch bag and not a shoulder bag or a bigger purse like a tote? The reason does not have to do with style or fashion. It's a royal hack for when they don't want to shake hands and don't want to look awkward while doing so.
"When the Duchess is at an event, she holds her bag in front of her in both hands when shaking hands might be awkward," Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette said. However, royal protocol dictates that no one can shake the hands of a royal of they don't extend theirs first and they could refuse a handshake by simply opting to smile or wave.
Meanwhile, Princess Diana carried around a clutch bag to hold her lipstick. But she also uses the tiny handbag to cover her cleavage when she's wearing a low-cut dress. Her favorites are the ones designed by Anya Hindmarch.
"We used to laugh when we designed what she called her 'cleavage bags,' little satin clutches which she would cover her cleavage with when she stepped out of cars," the designer told Telegraph.
