Queen Elizabeth's Launer handbag (4/1/09 Buckingham Palace with Obamas)
Since I’ve been blogging about Queen Elizabeth in general and her purse-carrying habit in particular, I’ve looked at a lot of of images of the Queen carrying purses. She seems to prefer small, unfussy black leather handbags, though she has carried a white purse before, I know. At first, the black leather handbags looked as if they could be just one bag. Closer inspection revealed slight differences in straps, patinas, and shapes. In all the bags I scrutinized, though, one theme was a constant. The clasp on the different bags was always the same. The clasp was distinctive – covered with a gold rope emblem. The clasp looked like a string you tie on your finger to remember something. Was it a logo, perhaps? I sensed a designer lurking about.
I was slow to catch on. Of course. The Queen doesn’t buy her purses off the rack at Macy’s; she has a royal pursemaker. That’s why the purses looked so similar. They were made by the same company.
Queen Elizabeth in Jamestown (5/4/2007) with handbag
A little further digging for the name of the designer turned up a lot of information. Evidently, not only does Her Royal Highness have a royal pursemaker to make her purses – Launer’s of London – but also a royal milliner to make her hats and a royal dressmaker to make her dresses. Currently, three British royals, The Queen, her husband Prince Philip ( AKA the Duke of Edinburgh) and their son Prince Charles (AKA the Prince of Wales) may grant “Royal Warrants of Appointment” to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant allows the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family. The Royal Warrant does not mean that these specially-honored companies must then give the Royals their goods and services for free. Rather, suppliers both continue to charge their royal customers as well as reap incredible bonuses in the marketplace courtesy of the royal endorsement.
Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth's coat-of-arms
Launer's "Royale" handbag
Launer of London holds the Royal Warrant for supplying the Queen with her leather goods and purses. On the “About Us” page on the Launer company website, the Queen’s coat-of-arms is displayed boldly at the top left and right of the page. Under the company’s history, we read that:
photo of Queen Elizabeth II on the Launer company website
In 1991, Her Majesty the Queen visited the factory on 4th March, spending virtually the whole afternoon with all the employees and seeing all the various stages of making both handbags and personal leather goods. This was a great honour for the company, and in the following year Launer was also given the right to add leather goods to the warrant.
Lisa's History Room 
But why does she wear those lovely pink outfits without another black thing and then hang a black purse on her arm? Couldn’t she go for color-matching?
LikeLike
The Queen is referred to as Her Majesty (not Her Royal Majesty, not Her Royal Highness) HRH is the designation for her husband, their children and those of her grandchildren considered sufficiently close in the line of succession.
LikeLike
Jane, you are most welcome to visit Lisa’s History Room. Try to keep the conversation on a positive level.
LikeLike
I think it was positive, it is just being accurate. I am English, and it matters……
LikeLike
Why black? Because, accessories; handbags, gloves and shoes, as well as cars and appliances should be black or white, or dove gray if you are really daring. While the queen would certainly wear whatever she wanted, she might feel that white could be considered a trifle “jeune fille” for a lady of a certain age, as well as somewhat informal for what is, essentially, an official occasion.
Unless it’s a formal evening event, then the gloves would be white. The handbag, I’m not sure I remember if it would be black or white.
Black is always appropriate, partical and goes with everything.
Next question: who makes her shoes?
LikeLike
I agree with you. Black is always a safe choice in purses. I have seen the Queen carry a white purse though. As for the maker of her shoes…
Thanks for visiting Lisa’s History Room and keep coming back. I appreciate you.
LikeLike
Thank you for the very interesting information. I recently received an email with several photos of the Queen meeting U.S. presidents. She appears to be carrying the same bag when she met Nixon as she was carrying when she met Clinton. Neither bag, however, bears the same rope-type clasp as the Launer bags. Do you know who made her bags before Launer? I would be happy to forward you the photos if you wish.
LikeLike
Melina, I do want to see these photos.
LikeLike
Sure thing. What email address would you like me to send them to?
LikeLike
lisarogers224@austin.rr.com
LikeLike
i’ve searched everywhere…who makes her shoes? they’ve got to be comfortable. my feet her; i need the Her Majesty’s shoes. please help.
LikeLike
I would recommend searching the Internet for the royal warrant for leather for Queen Elizabeth II.
LikeLike
I asked a shoemaker in Arlington, Texas, what he would charge to make a pair of ladies dress shoes. He said $1,000 for the pattern including the first pair of shoes and $850 per pair afterwards. That was in 1988.
LikeLike
I live in the UK and when I was young (in the 1970s/80s) my Mum used to have a wonderful book which listed all of the Royal Warrants – with photos of the shops and their products – it was a wonderful coffee table book. That, of course, was in the days before the internet and now you can go on line and search the website of the Royal Warrants that have been granted – http://www.royalwarrant.org/index.html. I did a general search for shoes and it seems that her shoes are made by ANELLO & DAVIDE HANDMADE SHOES LIMITED. Their website is http://www.anellodavide.com. No prices given so I expect it will be pretty expensive and you would have to go in person to get your feet measured.
With regards the Queens handbags – made by Launer – you can buy these on line from the Launer website – http://www.launer.com/en.html. They cost up to around £900 (around $1500). There has been alot of positive coverage about them since William and Kates wedding so I imagine that there is probably a bit of wait on delivery but they are not really very expensive when compared to the bags that Victoria Beckham has – The Hermes Birkin bag can cost up to $50,000 and even a s,tandard model is around $15,000.
LikeLike
Rachel, this is excellent info. Wow. Thanks so much.
LikeLike