A former British Airways attendant has revealed that Queen Elizabeth used to drink a martini before meeting guests on royal flights, request a specific type of mint during take-off, and enjoyed following route maps.
According to a Daily Mail report, the late monarch’s flying habits were revealed through a memorabilia collection made by a flight attendant who worked for British Airways for 28 years from 1970.
Elizabeth Evans, who hails from Birmingham, has served many famous faces throughout her three-decade-long career. Some of her most memorable journeys include the Queen and Prince Philip’s 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.
She remembered that flight attendants received detailed instructions on how to care for the royal couple. This included coordinating with Her Majesty’s dresser to ensure the Queen’s bed was properly prepared, noting that she preferred to bring her pillows. Another directive specified that a bowl of Velamints should be placed beside her before take-off and also in her dressing room.
A note found in Evans’ memorabilia collection after her death indicated that guests joining the Queen were to be informed about the timing of cocktails, and the Queen should be consulted about the wine to be served with dinner.
One note mentioned, “Her Majesty tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive.” The Queen later chose to stop drinking her favorite Martini a year before her death after learning it could affect her joints. Royal sommelier Demetri Walters revealed in 2021, “It’s bad for her joints, and she can’t drink too much while fulfilling her royal duties—it’s not a job that allows for drinking.”
The Queen was known to enjoy a few drinks throughout the day, including a gin and Dubonnet before lunch, a glass of sweet German wine with dinner, and a dry martini before bed. Her preferred drink was a mixture of one part gin to two parts Dubonnet.
Evans’ collection also features famous names such as Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Swayze, and tennis champions Virginia Wade and Billie Jean King.
This collection will be auctioned by Hansons Auctioneers from August 15-20, with an expected price of £400-£600. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, commented, “Elizabeth’s archive takes us back to the 1970s, 80s, and 90s when flying on Concorde was a luxury enjoyed by the elite. Celebrities flocked to use its services, and carrying royalty was common. The service had to be first class.
Elizabeth was highly regarded by British Airways, as evidenced by the confidential instructions on how to care for the late Queen and Prince Philip, including the sweets Her Majesty preferred on take-off.”
Hanson added, “The Queen liked to have a bowl of Velamints handy and in her dressing room. The instructions also noted she ‘tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive.’ Royal comforts included her own pillows and having her dresser make up her bed.
If Her Majesty was asleep before landing, cabin crew were instructed not to disturb her and to leave her undisturbed in her bed.”
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