Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Flying Requests Involved Mints, Martinis, and a “Do Not Disturb” Sign

As the monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth was often required to travel around the globe. As a result, she racked up a humungous amount of air miles, and developed a series of flying habits she simply couldn’t travel without. If you find air travel less than glamorous, take note of Elizabeth’s regal requests.

Personal information regarding the Queen’s in-flight habits has been revealed in a memorabilia collection, which is being sold at auction, via Hansons. The impressive collection belonged to British Airways flight attendant Elizabeth Evans, who worked for the airline for an incredible 28 years. As such, she worked on Concorde flights, and served a plethora of stars, from royal family members, to Hollywood actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Swayze.

In 1989, Evans was lucky enough to work on a royal flight carrying Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their tour of Singapore and Malaysia. The mementos in Evans’ collection reveal some of the monarch’s flying habits, including the Queen’s drink of choice when boarding an aircraft. “The Queen liked to have a bowl of Velva mints at hand and in her dressing room,” Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers noted. “The instructions also stated she ‘tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive.'”

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at Ljubljana airport on October 23, 2008.

Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II at Ljubljana airport on October 23, 2008.

(Image credit: HRVOJE POLAN/AFP via Getty Images)

As well as being partial to a Martini, the Queen apparently enjoyed “having her own pillows” on each flight, and having “her dresser” prepare the bed. Most importantly, staff were issued a “do not disturb” order if they encountered a sleeping monarch on their plane. “[I]f Her Majesty was asleep prior to landing, cabin crew were instructed not to not disturb her,” Hanson explained. “She should be left in her bed.”

Queen Elizabeth traveling by plane.
Image credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images/Pool/ Tim Graham Picture Library /Getty Images

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