It was known that Queen Elizabeth drank a martini before receiving guests on royal flights, requested a certain type of mint during take-off and liked to follow route maps.
The late monarch’s flying habits were revealed through the collection of memorabilia belonging to a flight attendant who worked for British Airways for 28 years from 1970.
Birmingham-born Elizabeth Evans has served many famous faces over the course of a career spanning almost three decades – one of her most memorable trips was the Queen and Prince Philip’s tour of Singapore and Malaysia in 1989.
The flight attendants working on board received very precise instructions on how to deal with the royal couple.
This included coordinating with Her Majesty’s Dresser to ensure that the Queen’s bed was properly made – noting that she would bring her own pillows.
The Queen reads a newspaper during her flight home from Bridgetown, Barbados, in the supersonic Concorde following her Silver Jubilee tour of Canada and the West Indies
Queen Elizabeth II talks to businessmen in front of a model of the Concorde aircraft at the British Aircraft Corporation factory in Filton, Bristol, September 1966
The flight attendants working on board received precise instructions on how to treat the royal couple.
In another note, flight attendants were instructed to ensure that a bowl of velamints was placed next to them before departure and also in their dressing room.
BA staff were told not to disturb the Queen and to leave her in bed if she was still asleep when she landed.
Another note, found in Mrs Evans’ memorabilia collection after her death, stated that guests accompanying the Queen would be informed when cocktails would be served and that Her Majesty should be asked what wine should be served with dinner.
“Her Majesty enjoys a martini before her guests arrive,” another note said.
A year before her death, the Queen decided to stop drinking her favorite drink after learning that it was not good for her joints.
Royal sommelier Demetri Walters revealed in 2021: “It’s bad for her joints and she can’t drink too much when she’s doing all these royal duties – it’s not a job where you can drink.”
The Queen is said to enjoy a few drinks to get through the day, including a Gin Dubonnet before lunch, a glass of sweet German wine with dinner and a dry martini before bed.
Your favorite drink should consist of one part gin and two parts Dubonnet.
Other memorabilia in Ms. Evans’ collection includes Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard, actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Swayze, and tennis champions Virginia Wade and Billie Jean King.
A number of items collected on board BA and Concorde will go under the hammer later this week
Queen Elizabeth II browses through a photo album on her flight home from Bridgetown, Barbados, in Concorde after her Silver Jubilee tour of the Caribbean
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature was among the numerous memorabilia collected on board Concorde with celebrities and royals
The collection is set to go under the hammer for £400-£600 at Hansons Auctioneers’ Antiques and Collectors Auction from 15-20 August.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Elizabeth’s archive takes us back to the 1970s, 80s and 90s, when flying on Concorde was a luxurious privilege of the wealthy jet set.”
“Celebrities flocked to the company’s services and transporting members of the royal family was the norm. The service had to be first class.”
“Elizabeth was obviously highly regarded at BA because she served some of the most important people in the world.
“Take the 1989 British Airways Royal Flight, for example. Its memorabilia includes confidential instructions on how to care for our late Queen and Prince Philip – right down to the sweets Her Majesty preferred upon take-off.”
Mr Hanson added: “The Queen liked to have a bowl of Velva mints on hand and in her dressing room. The instructions also stated that she ‘likes to have a martini before her guests arrive’.
“Royal comforts included her having her own pillows and her dresser making her bed. In addition, cabin crew were instructed not to disturb Her Majesty when she was sleeping before landing. She was to remain in her bed.”
Ms Evans said she was most proud of her work as a crew member on Concorde in the 1980s and 90s, when everyone wanted to try travelling at the speed of sound. The plane could fly from London to New York in three hours.
