A collection of notes and memorabilia from Elizabeth Evans, a former British Airways flight attendant, has provided a rare glimpse into the routines and preferences of Queen Elizabeth II during her 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia with Prince Philip. The archive, now being auctioned by Hansons Auctioneers in the United Kingdom, includes service instructions, signed menu cards, wine lists, and personal notes gathered over Evans’ nearly three-decade career with the airline.
Royal preferences revealed
Among the most intriguing details is the Queen’s fondness for a martini cocktail before entertaining guests on board. According to Evans’ notes, Queen Elizabeth II “tends to like a martini before her guests arrive.” The instructions also specified that a full supply of Velamints, a popular mint confectionery in the UK at the time, should be available before take-off and inside the Queen’s dressing room during the flight. Additionally, cabin crew were instructed not to wake the monarch if she were asleep before landing. These practical arrangements offer a fascinating look into the meticulous planning behind royal tours.
Glimpse into the Concorde era
The memorabilia also highlight the golden age of luxury air travel during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly involving Concorde. Evans joined British Airways in 1970 and remained until 1998, serving prominent personalities on Concorde, the world’s first commercially operated supersonic passenger aircraft. The collection includes autographs and memorabilia from celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Swayze, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard, and tennis players Billie Jean King and Virginia Wade. Evans considered her time on Concorde among the proudest moments of her career. The aircraft could complete London to New York journeys in around three hours, and smoking was permitted on commercial flights during that era, highlighting how aviation trends have evolved.
Rediscovered years later
The collection was discovered by Evans’ niece, Jo Smallwood, after Evans’ death in 2017. While sorting through her aunt’s personal belongings in South Africa, Smallwood realised the historical significance of the memorabilia. She expressed amazement at the volume of items, noting they came from Evans’ time with British Airways. The collection is expected to sell at auction for between £400 and £600. Although the documents do not reveal matters of state, they have sparked public curiosity by offering a rare window into the comforts and routines of royal travel.
