Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was marked by her ability to grow into her role with exceptional grace and authority, particularly considering she ascended the throne at just 25 years old. Surrounded by older, more experienced men — many of whom had served her father, King George VI — the young queen had to learn quickly, balancing the demands of her position with the need to keep her own counsel. Her approach was measured, never revealing her thoughts until she was fully ready to make a decision.
One of the most significant figures during her early years on the throne was Winston Churchill, the wartime prime minister, who took it upon himself to mentor the new queen. According to biographer Andrew Morton, author of Winston and the Windsors, Churchill observed a subtle but telling habit in the Queen when making decisions. He noticed that when she was about to announce a decision, she would pause, look out of the window for a few moments, and then return to the room to share her conclusion. Morton recounts how Churchill respected the Queen’s decision-making process, often remarking that she “invariably made the right decision.”
Churchill believed that despite her youth and inexperience, Queen Elizabeth possessed the right temperament for the role. As Morton puts it, she had “the temperament of a bureaucrat but the glamour of a queen.” She was firm in her convictions, often stubborn, which Churchill admired and respected. This combination of inner strength and outward grace made her an effective monarch, capable of balancing personal resolve with the demands of public life.
But it wasn’t just her decision-making that revealed her aptitude for the throne; Queen Elizabeth also had a few subtle, yet highly effective, non-verbal cues that helped her manage her royal duties and navigate official engagements. Her trusted Launer handbag, which she was often seen holding, became a key tool in signaling the end of a conversation or an official outing. When she wished to conclude an engagement, she would switch her handbag from one arm to the other, a discreet sign to her handlers that it was time to move her along. As royal historian Hugo Vickers noted, if someone saw the Queen switch her handbag, “it would be very worrying” — a sign that the meeting or conversation was coming to an end.
However, if she felt the need to leave an event more urgently, the Queen had another trick up her sleeve. She would sometimes spin her ring, a more direct signal to indicate that it was time for her to exit the gathering quickly. This more dramatic gesture conveyed her desire to move on, and her staff would immediately begin the process of ushering her out, always with the utmost discretion and respect for the Queen’s wishes.
In more formal settings, if the Queen wished to end a meeting with a visiting dignitary, such as a prime minister, she would discreetly press a buzzer. This would signal to the footmen and other staff outside that it was time to enter and assist with the exit, ensuring that the conversation was concluded and the visitor escorted out.
These little gestures, though subtle, were crucial in maintaining the Queen’s authority and sense of control over her time and engagements. They revealed a monarch who was not only poised and gracious but also strategic and aware of how to navigate the complex, often demanding world of royal duties.
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