Behind the couture, motorcades, and formal royal portraits, the Queen relies on a cheap convenience-store hit to survive long-haul travel. Arriving for a church service in Antigua with a £2,200 Bottega Veneta handbag on her arm, she was spotted with a £3.99 packet of supermarket liquorice stashed in her car door.
Believed to be RJ's liquorice—the exact same treat King Charles carried at London Fashion Week—the discovery reveals a surprisingly relatable side to the couple's tour routine. It also raises an intriguing question: is this just an innocent travel necessity, or a sweet habit that comes with a nutritional warning?
Designer Bag Meets £4 Sweets
The Queen arrived for a church service in Saint John's looking every bit the royal matriarch in a turquoise Anna Valentine dress and that £2,200 bag. The service marked the 45th anniversary of Independence and celebrated the Commonwealth, a grand, formal occasion that made the unscripted sight of a budget snack stand out even more. The liquorice was spotted tucked right into the car door as she stepped out.
The packet has been described as having a 'medicinal' taste, which only sharpens the hilarious contrast. Luxury leather and a sweet shop favourite make an unlikely pairing for the monarchy, but King Charles actually set the precedent. He arrived for the first show of London Fashion Week on 19 February with the same sweets.
Why Royals Rely on Everyday Comfort Food on Tours
So why bring sweets at all? The answer is delightfully relatable: royal travel is exhausting. Royal editor Emily Nash has said Camilla, who turns 77 next year, genuinely dislikes long-haul travel. She finds a full day in the heat draining, and Nash noted that working outdoors in the early thirties is tough for anyone.
The Queen reportedly joined the King about five days after he arrived, stepping straight into a relentless schedule of personal engagements alongside events at his side. Nash noted she will be there for the big summit events at CHOGM, so actual downtime is scarce. In a day packed with back-to-back appearances, the quiet car ride between stops becomes the only natural moment to grab a quick, grounding snack.
It also fits her personal palate to a T. Camilla once told her son, Tom Parker Bowles, that her 'last supper' would end with bitter chocolate ice cream, so a sharp, grown-up treat suits her taste. She has also joked that she is not a 'natural baker,' so reaching for a trusty shop-bought sweet feels completely on brand for her sweet tooth.
Is Supermarket Liquorice Bad for You?
Of course, even the ultimate comfort food comes with a quirky caveat. BANT-registered nutritionist Charlotte Faure Green previously spoke about liquorice in general, in comments about the King. She did not assess either royal's diet, and nothing confirms that Camilla eats the sweets herself.
Her warning centred on glycyrrhizin, a compound that can raise the stress hormone cortisol. She said that, when eaten regularly in large amounts, it may also raise blood pressure and lower potassium. She advised treating it as an occasional indulgence rather than a go-to during stressful weeks and described the flavour as 'bold'.
With no evidence of heavy snacking, it seems more like a funny behind-the-scenes detail than a real cause for concern. A Commonwealth tour is hardly a quiet stretch, though, and the days are long, hot and relentless. Even a queen needs a small comfort waiting in the car door to get through the workday.
