Queen reveals a secret message with the position of her handbag at meeting with Australian High Commissioner
The location of her black trademark Launer handbag during a meeting with new Australian High Commissioner was very telling indeed
THE Queen revealed a secret message with her handbag during a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner George Brandis - but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still managed to steal the show.
A never-before-seen photo of the couple was proudly on display during the meeting - but did you spot the secret signal the Queen was making with her trademark Launer handbag?
According to Foreign Correspondent Jacquelin Magnay, the positioning of the Queen's bag was the key element of the picture.
If Her Majesty places her bag on a chair, this means she is happy for a prolonged chat with a guest.
Jacquelin explained: "Luckily for Mr Brandis — and perhaps for Australia’s strong relationship with the monarchy — the all important bag is placed on a chair, meaning the Queen is happy to be left talking to him."
However, if she were to move her bag to the floor, this would signal that she wished staff to end the conversation promptly.
Meanwhile if the bag was placed on the table, this would allow for five minutes of conversation before ending the meeting.
If we are ever lucky enough to meet the Queen, we’ll be keeping an eye out for where her bag is placed!
While the handbag went under the radar for many, it was the photo of the newlyweds that was the real talking point of the images.
It’s not clear when it was taken but it shows the smartly-dressed pair posing for the camera as the new Duchess of Sussex, 36, affectionately rests her hand on her 33-year-old husband’s chest.
It is the first photo of Meghan to appear in Buckingham Palace and it sits alongside Her Majesty's other treasured photographs of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The photograph sits pride of place at the front of the table and sees Harry dressed in a blue suit facing Meghan who is wearing in a figure-hugging dress.
It is unclear when and where the photo was taken but it seems likely to have been snapped as part of their December engagement shoot.
Other portraits to feature in the room are ones of Zara and Mike Tindall on their wedding day, a picture of William and Harry in Military uniform and a portrait of Princess Anne.
The audience room is where the Her Majesty keeps some of her most prized possessions and is on the palace's first floor.
On the mantelpiece stand two 18th Century English porcelain pheasants valued at £20,000; as well as a white marble and gilt bronze clock, valued at £4,000; an English gilt mirror, valued at £30,000.
At Buckingham Palace, audiences are either held in The Queen’s Audience Room or in the 1844 Room.
The Queen gives a weekly audience to the Prime Minister and will also have a private audience with the Chancellor of the Exchequer before new budgets are announced.
The Queen also chairs Privy Council meetings, which are held regularly throughout the year, usually around once a month.
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