Queen Elizabeth II's former dresser has revealed the late monarch's reaction to discovering her handbag came from a charity shop. Maureen Rose, who fitted the Queen for over three decades, including for her 2002 Golden Jubilee, recalled finding a pre-owned handbag from a charity shop to pair with a gold gown.
Queen's amused reaction
Ms Rose said: "When I told the Queen where it had come from, she just laughed and said, 'Well, at least I am doing my bit!'"
Explaining that she stood three inches shorter than the Queen, Ms Rose, 89, remembered how the monarch would look down at her while she held pins in her mouth during fittings. "She would joke, 'Be careful you don’t swallow them!'"
Warm memories of the monarch
Throughout their sessions, the seamstress addressed the Queen by her first name and was even congratulated personally by the monarch upon becoming a grandmother.
"It makes me cross when the Queen is portrayed as austere because she was one of the warmest and funniest people I ever met," she said. "Of all my customers over the years, she was the very best. She was so easy to work with and down to earth and always thanked you for your work."
Fitting routine and retirement
Describing the fitting routine, Ms Rose shared that the Queen would test garments by sitting, walking around, and examining the fit from multiple angles using a three-way mirror. To protect her beloved corgis from stray pins, she would personally clear the carpet using a magnet attached to a string.
Upon Ms Rose's retirement in 2003, the monarch sent a signed portrait of herself at Windsor Castle alongside other crowned heads of Europe, wearing a white and ivory gown Ms Rose had designed. The accompanying letter read: "The Queen is most grateful to you for all the work you have done for her and much appreciates the loyalty and support you have given her over the years."
Doll clothing collection
After retiring from royal service, Ms Rose channelled her talents into creating doll clothing, which is expected to fetch hundreds of pounds at auction. Janet Rawnsley, head of fine dolls at Hansons Auctioneers, said: "Maureen is an incredible seamstress, and the clothes she made for some of her collection of dolls are every bit as intricate as her finest work reserved for the late Queen."
The doll collection is set to be auctioned at Bishton Hall in Stafford on October 20.
