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Her Launer handbags are as familiar a symbol of the 90-year-old monarch as her corgis, castles, palaces and beloved horses and their contents have provoked endless discussion and even a book by royal author Phil Dampier. But it seems that over the years this most vital of accessories for a royal lady has also performed another set of vital functions. Those who watch her closely believe she uses them to signal when she has had enough and needs to move on to speak to somebody else or just simply go home.

GETTY The queen uses her handbag to send secret messages to her staff

Luckily, they'd let you down easy Hugo Vickers

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said that shifting her bag from one hand to the other is an indication that she is ready to end a conversation. It is also claimed that the Queen will place her bag on a table at events to signal that she is ready to leave, while others - but not Mr Vickers - believe that there is a third secret signal in which the Queen discreetly twists her wedding ring to indicate she would like to be moved on to talk to someone else. Mr Vickers, who has discussed the signals with other royal experts for years, said of the handbag switch to summon aides to rescue the monarch from a conversation with the unfortunate host: "Luckily, they'd let you down easy.

GETTY It is believed that she uses it to signal when she has had enough, needs to move on, and go home

"It would be done very nicely. Someone would come along and say, 'Ma'am, the Archbishop of Canterbury would very much like to meet you." A third secret signal is a discreet twist of her wedding ring, which the Queen uses to emphasise that she'd like to be moved on from a conversation quickly. Of the handbag hand switch to summon helpers, Vickers said: 'Luckily, they'd let you down easy.'

GETTY The Queen will place her handbag on the table to signal she is ready to leave

'It would be done very nicely. Someone would come along and say, "Sir, the Archbishop of Canterbury would very much like to meet you". It has also been claimed previously that when the Queenplaces her bag on the table at an event, it is a five minute warning to her ladies-in-waiting that she is ready to leave. The Queen has each of her Launer handbags customised with longer handles so they do not get in the way when she is shaking hands.

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GETTY Each bag contains a mirror, matching purse and glasses case