The Queen and I

The former Archbishop of Canterbury experienced her love for Windsor Castle and her spirited driving style as a weekend guest and the Queen’s passenger. Yet she was always a professional. “She created a relaxed atmosphere. But it was clear who was in charge,‘ recalls Bishop Justin Welby of his one-on-one conversations with the Queen. She was always meticulously prepared and never overlooked a single detail. Her question ’Are you sure?" was feared.

Even when she spent a few days with her friends, the Warrens, she still carried out her duties. She had packed the red leather suitcases containing the state documents, as well as her riding boots. John Warren advised the Queen on the breeding of her racehorses. They spoke on the phone every day and talked shop, he says, and he also recounts an experience she had with her father that laid the foundation for her passion for horses.

The three-strand pearl necklace that George VI gave to his daughter was her everyday accessory. Every day dress had to be made in such a way that the necklace was shown to its best advantage. “The Queen was quite the coquette,” says fashion designer Stewart Parvin, who dressed the Queen for twenty years, from the initial design right through to the final fitting.

Her handbag was also part of her iconic look. But is there any truth to the rumour that the Queen used her handbag to send signals to her team?
Her private secretary explains how communication with her boss worked. Samantha Cohen particularly fondly recalls her stays with the Queen at Balmoral, where the schedule wasn’t just filled with official business, but also included plenty of laughter and dancing.