When a monarch takes to the skies, most would imagine a journey defined by polished service, spacious seating and the kind of luxury touches reserved for the world’s most high-profile passengers.
Queen Elizabeth II was certainly familiar with life at altitude, travelling extensively throughout her record-breaking reign to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Her final overseas flight took her to Malta in 2015, capping a lifetime of royal travel that saw her visit 117 countries.
As one of the most recognisable travellers on the planet, the late Queen had her own carefully honed in-flight habits, with onboard preferences that ranged from sensible and practical to surprisingly quirky.
The Daily Mail has taken a closer look at the special requests Queen Elizabeth made while flying.
Pre-flight tipple
Plenty of regular travellers have rituals they swear by before boarding, whether it is a quick airport pint, a Greggs sausage roll, or a coffee and pastry before take-off.
The Queen, it seems, had a routine of her own — and it began with a drink before the flight.
New insight into the Queen’s airline habits comes from a trove of memorabilia put together by a former flight attendant who spent 28 years working for British Airways from 1970.
Birmingham local Elizabeth Evans served many famous faces throughout her career – with some of the most memorable journeys being the Queen and Prince Philip’s 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.
One note in Ms Evans’ collection said: ‘Her Majesty tends to like a martini before her guests arrive.’
Mints and pillows
Another note told air stewards to make sure that a bowl of mints was placed beside her before take off – and also in her dressing room.
She favoured Velamints, a sugar-free mint that was launched in the United States in 1977.
The brand is credited as the US’s first sugar-free mint, sweetened with natural sweeteners such as stevia.
Pillows are among the most complained-about items on board planes, with many travellers complaining of their discomfort.
While Queen Elizabeth may have enjoyed more comfortable surroundings than the average passenger, she still took her own pillows on board to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Flight attendants working on her flights were given a specific set of instructions on how to treat Queen Elizabeth II.
This included liaising with Her Majesty’s dresser to ensure the Queen’s bed was made up correctly.
‘The Queen has her own pillows,’ a note from the collection read.
Getting some rest
That’s not the only bedtime-related request the royal made of staff.
British Airways crew aboard a Concorde jet used by Queen Elizabeth were reportedly told that if she was still asleep when the aircraft landed, they should not disturb her slumber and should instead leave her resting in bed.
She also requested complete silence while sleeping. Crew members were not permitted to pass through the royal cabin without permission, while noise in the forward galley was strictly prohibited to ensure the monarch remained undisturbed throughout her rest.
Staff were expected to follow the detailed instructions at all times.
Keeping hydrated
Hydration is paramount on board – and Her Majesty favoured one brand in particular.
The Queen was also said to insist on having one particular brand of water wherever she travelled: Malvern spring water.
Former royal spokesman Dickie Arbiter said: ‘The only thing the Queen requests to have wherever she is is Malvern water.
‘She likes Malvern water, it’s refreshing and they usually take lots of it with her.’
Plus, to beat jet-lag, the Queen was said to consume barley sugar, in the form of hard-boiled sweets.
Channel 5 documentary Secrets Of The Royal Flight describes barley sugar as the Queen’s ‘secret weapon’.
While it is not backed by science, reports have explained the sugary snack can help adjust your body clock.
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