Queen Elizabeth’s secret royal flight traditions are revealed – from guzzling a glass of her favourite tipple that she was later banned from drinking, to asking for a particular mint on take-off

Queen Elizabeth would drink a martini before meeting guests on royal flights, would request a specific type of mint during take off and enjoyed following route maps, it has been revealed.

The late monarch’s flying habits were uncovered through a memorabilia collection made by a =a flight attendant who worked for British Airways for 28 years from 1970.

Birmingham local Elizabeth Evans served many a famous face throughout her almost three decade long career – with some of the most memorable journeys being the Queen and Prince Philips 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.   

Flight attendants working onboard were given a very specific set of instructions on how to treat the royal couple.

This included liaising with the Her Majesty’s dresser to ensure the Queen’s bed was made up correctly – noting that she would bring her own pillows.

Queen Elizabeth II chatting with businessmen in front of a model of the Concorde airliner, at the British Aircraft Corporation works in Filton, Bristol, September 1966

Flight attendants working onboard were given a very specific set of instructions on how to treat the royal couple

Another note told air stewards to ensure a bowl of Velamints were placed beside her before take off and also in her dressing room. 

BA staff were told if the Queen were still asleep upon landing they were not to disturb her slumber and to leave her in bed.

Another note found in Ms Evans memorabilia collection after she died said that guests joining the Queen would be informed what time cocktails would be served and Her Majesty should be asked what wine to serve with dinner.

‘Her Majesty tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive,’ another note said. 

The Queen later chose to stop drinking her favourite tipple a year before her death after learning it was not good for her joints.

Royal sommelier Demetri Walters revealed in 2021: ‘It’s bad for her joints, and she can’t drink too much when she’s doing all these royal engagements — it’s not a job you can drink in.’ 

The Queen was said to enjoy a few drinks to get her through the day, including a gin and Dubonnet before lunch, a glass of sweet German wine with her evening meal, and a dry martini before bed.

Her favourite drink was said to be one part gin to two parts Dubonnet.

Other memorabilia in Ms Evans’ collection include Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard, actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Swayze and tennis champions Virginia Wade and Billie Jean King. 

A range of items collected onboard BA and Concorde are going under the hammer later this week

Queen Elizabeth II looking through an album of photographs during her flight home from Bridgetown, Barbados, in Concorde after her Silver Jubilee tour of the Caribbean

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature was amongst the celebrity and royalty-packed memorabilia collected aboard Concorde

The collection is set to fly under the hammer in Hansons Auctioneers’ August 15-20 Antiques and Collectors’ sale for between £400-£600.  

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: ‘Elizabeth’s archive sweeps us back in time to the 1970s, 80s and 90s when flying on Concorde was a luxurious privilege enjoyed by the wealthy jet-set. 

‘Celebrities flocked to use its services and carrying royalty was the norm. Service had to be first class. 

‘Elizabeth was clearly highly regarded by BA because she served some of the most important people in the world. 

‘Take that 1989 British Airways Royal Flight. Her memorabilia includes confidential instructions on how to care for our late Queen and Prince Philip – right down to the sweets Her Majesty preferred on take-off.’

Mr Hanson added: ‘The Queen liked to have a bowl of Velva mints at hand and in her dressing room. The instructions also stated she, ‘tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive’. 

‘Royal comforts included having her own pillows and her dresser made up her bed. Also, if Her Majesty was asleep prior to landing cabin crew were instructed not to not disturb her. She should be left in her bed.’

Ms Evans said her proudest achievement was crewing Concorde during the 1980s and 90s when everyone wanted to try travel at the speed of sound. The airplane could travel from London to New York within three hours.