Queen Elizabeth's Iconic Handbag, Featuring Her 'Preferred' Tweak, Is on Sale for the First Time to the Public
Queen Elizabeth's Iconic Handbag, Featuring Her 'Preferred' Tweak, Is on Sale for the First Time to the Public
Monique JessenTue, April 21, 2026 at 6:38 PM UTC
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Queen Elizabeth with her Launer bag in 2012Credit: Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool/Getty; Eddie Mulholland - WPA Pool /Getty -
Queen Elizabeth’s favorite Tosca handbag by Launer is now available to the public to mark her centenary
The bespoke design includes a leather strap, a practical feature that the Queen preferred for comfort
Three of her personal Launer bags are on display at Buckingham Palace as part of a style exhibition
Queen Elizabeth once told the designer of her famous handbags that she never felt fully dressed without a bag on her arm.
Now, Launer, the brand she was loyal to for over five decades, has made one of her go-to bags available to the public, exactly to the late Queen’s bespoke design for the first time, to commemorate the centenary of her birth.
“For over 50 years, we have had the profound honour of being associated with Her late Majesty, and it is a privilege to celebrate her enduring legacy through this special occasion,” CEO of the brand Gerald Bodmer tells PEOPLE from his office in Surrey.
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The Tosca bag was such a favorite of the late Queen’s that she owned it in both black patent and beige.
While the standard design featured a detachable gold chain strap, the Queen’s had a leather strap, also detachable (although she never wore it as a clutch), a subtle style tweak that was likely more to do with practicality and comfort, something the Queen always favored in her style choices.
The new QEII Tosca bag by LaunerCredit: Launer
“For the first time, this iconic handbag is being made available to the public, crafted with the same exquisite attention to detail as the original — featuring the elegant leather strap Her late Majesty preferred,” says Bodmer who has been head of the company since 1981 and takes pride in remembering the day the Queen visited the Walsall factory near Birmingham back in 1992.
“It’s amazing when you meet someone like that, how normal they are,” he says, commenting on how long she spent with the all-female factory workers, who are so skilled at their jobs that they are trained to make each bag from start to finish, a feat that takes over eight hours of craftsmanship.
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Queen Elizabeth at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
The Tosca, launched in the 1990s, was worn by the Queen on multiple occasions. However, one of the most prominent was in 2009 when she carried it to meet the then-President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama for the first time.
Queen Camilla, who issued the company a Royal Warrant last year (they held one for the Queen since 1968), is also a fan of the same design, which she owns in white and wears as a clutch.
Queen Elizabeth with her Tosca bag meeting the Obamas in April 2009Credit: Pete Souza/White House via Getty
The new version of the Tosca bag is part of the brand’s QEII Commemorative Collection, eight hero bags, each worn by the Queen, including her much-loved Traviata.
As a nod to the centenary, customers have the option to have the signature Launer rope emblem embellished with crystals and a discreet plaque stamped inside the bag.
Those not in the market for a $2,325 bag can go and see the actual Launer bags from her personal collection as three of them (the Violetta in buttermilk, Traviata in patent black leather with a customized lock and the Lucia in gold) are on display at Buckingham Palace as part of the style exhibition featuring over 300 pieces of her personal wardrobe at The King’s Gallery, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style which runs now until October 18.
“To have our bags from Queen Elizabeth’s personal collection featured in this remarkable exhibition, with its deep historic significance, is very moving, says Bodmer, who is still running the company at age 93. “Her careful preservation of them reflects her enduring respect and affection for our craftsmanship - making this a truly emotive and meaningful moment."
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth with a special edition of PEOPLE featuring stories about her life and legacy, on sale now.
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