'There is a little 'shop' set up in the drawing room at Windsor Castle and the Queen can pop in and choose gifts at her leisure. 'Late at night, after dinner, usually around 10pm, she'll pop into her little Christmas shop and do some shopping. '
And as to putting one's clothes on, contrary to popular belief the Queen actually dressed alone. The monarch also did her own make-up for most events, with the exception of her annual Christmas speech, for which a make-up artist was employed.
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The Queen is a creature of habit, from what she wears to what she eats. And, like most of us, she has a few favourite shops that she returns to again and again.
But it's not just Elizabeth who loves Waitrose - the supermarket has been a prestigious family favourite for around 100 years. Waitrose's royal warrant dates back to 1928, when it supplied groceries to King George V.
Queen Elizabeth has also been seen at Quaglinos in St James's, which has welcomed in many a royal, from Princess Margaret to Princess Di to Prince Harry. The luxe restaurant and bar claims not only was The Queen the first monarch to dine out - ever - but her first restaurant - also ever - was Quaglinos.
Kate Middleton, 40, is lucky in that she will have staff at Windsor that can do food shops for her. However, this has not stopped the Duchess of Cambridge from going shopping from time to time.
Queen Elizabeth never wears the same outfit twice at important events. Therefore, the sovereign prefers to either change her outfits and if she gets bored of them, she sends them to her dressers, who are then allowed to either wear them themselves or sell them.
You'll rarely see the Queen in pants
Her Majesty has been photographed wearing pants in public fewer than 10 times in the last 70 years, but that doesn't mean she never wears them at home. “While seeing her wear them in public might have caused a furore, they're a central part of her private wardrobe,” Holt said.
Late at night, after dinner, usually around 10pm, she'll pop into her little Christmas shop and do some shopping. “The Queen always chooses practical gifts that can be used – never ornaments or decorative things.
The Queen preferred grilled fish or chicken, served simply with vegetables. She generally skipped starches like potatoes, grains, or rice during her evening meal.
There are three sources of funding for The Queen, or officials of the Royal Household acting on Her Majesty's behalf, in both a public and private capacity. These are: the Sovereign Grant, the Privy Purse and The Queen's personal wealth and income.
The Queen. Very rarely does Her Majesty dine out. If she does, it's for special occasions and events only.
The Queen has to be on top form to be in charge of the Royal Family every day, and apparently, the monarch has a very strict morning routine, which involves tuning into her favourite radio station, enjoying a cup of tea and a long soak in the bath before getting dressed.
The only time the Queen was photographed in pants was during the Royal Tour of Canada in 1970, when a young tailor crafted her a matte-silk trouser suit in an effort to update her look. Apparently it never stuck, and the moment has become the only time the royal wore trousers in public. No, we're not kidding.
Yes you read that right. Apparently a lot of posh people actually prefer to sleep in separate beds, including the Queen and her man. As etiquette expert Lady Pam and Her Majesty's cousin explained in a biography about her relative: "In England, the upper class always have had separate bedrooms.
Back in the 1960s, the monarch re-wore her custom-made gowns at high-profile events, including the Norman Hartnell dress that Princess Beatrice borrowed for her wedding day in 2020. The Queen's personal dresser, Angela Kelly, previously explained how the royal's repeat-wears were always carefully considered.
Enter Angela Kelly ‒ the queen's most loyal aide for the past three decades. She's also known as her hairdresser, dresser and “best friend”, as claimed by various media. But what do we know about the 64 year old so far?
Such is the genius of her turn toward frumpy fashion: The queen uses her modesty as a tool to pacify her advisers, so that they remain her cooperative informants. But the dowdiness of her clothes is merely a comforting lie. Underneath her ill-fitting garments lies an experienced, determined, resilient woman.
While her coffin is draped in the Royal Standard – a flag representing the Sovereign and the UK, it will have the Imperial State Crown mounted on it. Additionally, The Queen's orb and her sceptre will also be spread on her coffin before she is laid to rest.
Clothing that was of less historical significance is likely set to be given to family members — and her granddaughters and great-granddaughters could be in for a windfall. “Items from the Queen's personal collection would have been passed to her family members with each chosen personally by Her Majesty.
Angela Kelly, the designer and dressmaker who served as the late Queen Elizabeth II's Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser for 30 years, will remain at her grace-and-favour home on the Windsor estate following the monarch's death.
Does the Queen ever cook for herself? McGrady says that while Prince Philip was an “amazing chef” and regularly enjoyed cooking on the grill and having family BBQs on the Balmoral estate, and the younger royals like William, Kate, Meghan and Harry, all enjoy cooking, the Queen herself stays out of the kitchen.
Kate is able to purchase some of the items if she wishes, and it comes out of her allowance which is allocated to the family by Prince Charles. Prior to becoming a royal, Meghan was required to pay for all her own clothing, the duchess deemed unable to accept gifts following her royal wedding.
Non-working royals, like Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, who don't participate in official engagements "will most certainly have been regular visitors of grocery stores," Koenig says. The royal sisters probably did all of their own shopping while living in New York City, where Beatrice currently resides.