The late Queen Elizabeth II maintained a distinct set of preferences and routines during her extensive air travel, according to details compiled by a former British Airways flight attendant. The former attendant, Elizabeth Evans, who served the airline for 28 years starting in 1970, collected notes and information regarding the monarch's journeys, including a tour with Prince Philip in 1989.
Queen Elizabeth II's travel regimen reportedly began with a pre-flight martini, a ritual noted as something she enjoyed before guests arrived. As a frequent flyer who visited 117 countries during her reign, with her final international trip to Malta in 2015, her comfort and routine were paramount. Flight attendants were instructed to ensure a bowl of sugar-free Velamints, a brand launched in the United States in 1977 and credited as the first sugar-free mint there, was available both before takeoff and in her dressing room.
Ensuring a comfortable rest was also a priority. The Queen reportedly brought her own pillows on flights, and staff were given specific instructions on how to prepare her sleeping arrangements. These instructions included liaising with her dresser to ensure the bed was made to her satisfaction.
Further requests focused on maintaining tranquility during sleep. On a Concorde flight the Queen took, crew members were informed not to wake her if the plane landed while she was still asleep. Silence was also a key requirement; staff were not permitted to pass through the royal cabin without authorization, and noise in the forward galley was prohibited.
Hydration was another area with specific preferences. Queen Elizabeth II reportedly insisted on drinking Malvern spring water, a brand favored for its refreshing quality. Former royal spokesman Dickie Arbiter stated that Malvern water was the one item the Queen requested consistently, wherever her travels took her.
To combat jet lag, the Queen was said to consume barley sugar, in the form of hard-boiled sweets. A Channel 5 documentary, 'Secrets Of The Royal Flight,' identified barley sugar as her 'secret weapon' for adjusting her body clock, although this method is not scientifically validated.
