Queen Elizabeth’s mid-air comforts have been revealed thanks to a new auction.
Mints and martinis are among the late Queen’s surprising flying habits that are detailed in memorabilia collected from a 1989 British Airways flight which is going up for sale at Hansons Auctioneers from Aug. 15-20.
Jo Smallwood inherited the memorabilia from her late aunt Elizabeth Evans, who served as a cabin crew member to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on the flight during their 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia, per a Hansons press release.
The collection is expected to sell for between £400 to £600 ($511 to $767) and includes confidential instructions on caring for the Queen, revealing that she liked to “have a bowl of Velva mints at hand and in her dressing room” and often drank a Martini “before her guests arrive[d].”
Per the release, Queen Elizabeth’s other royal comforts including having her own pillows onboard and having her bed made up. Crew members were also warned that if the late monarch fell asleep prior to landing they should not disturb her.
Evans, who died at age 70 in 2017, served many high profile passengers during her 28-year career with British Airways, including Rod Stewart, Patrick Swayze and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The collection up for auction also includes signed menu cards and autographs from the musician and actors, along with tennis legend Billie Jean King.
The memorabilia was discovered by Smallwood when she visited her aunt’s home in South Africa to arrange her funeral, according to the release.
She said of the collection, “I was aware of some of the things Elizabeth had kept from her career with BA but nothing on this scale.”
“Having found this treasure trove relating to my aunt’s career and experiences with BA, especially the fantastic trips on Concorde and serving the Queen, I found it sad that none of it had seen the light of day,” she continued. “I believe this collection is a little piece of history that should be shared and enjoyed by somebody.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “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.”
Hansons Auctioneers’ antiques & collectors auction runs from Aug. 15-20.
