The Queen’s guests ‘sleep on second-hand bed linen’ at Buckingham Palace, Joanna Lumley claims
ACTRESS Joanna Lumley claims the Queen uses “second hand” cutlery, beds and even linen, saying if it’s good enough for the monarch then it’s good enough for her. The actress, 73, revealed how she’s trying to be more sustainable and reduce her plastic use, heralding Her Majesty as an unlikely hero. Joanna, also a TV […]
ACTRESS Joanna Lumley claims the Queen uses “second hand” cutlery, beds and even linen, saying if it’s good enough for the monarch then it’s good enough for her.
The actress, 73, revealed how she’s trying to be more sustainable and reduce her plastic use, heralding Her Majesty as an unlikely hero.
Joanna, also a TV presenter, praised the monarch for re-using her bedsheets – and beds.
The BAFTA-winning actress explained she comes from a “make-do and mend” generation, a title royal historian, Sir Roy Strong, bestowed on Her Majesty, dubbing her the “make-do-and-mend Queen”.
Joanna, OBE, told Good Housekeeping: “People say ‘You must need new things’ [but] when you go to stay at Buckingham Palace – guess what.
“You eat off second hand knives and forks, the bed you sleep in is second hand, the bed linen is second hand – and that’s Buckingham Palace.
“So if it’s good enough for the Queen, treasures, it’s good enough for me.”
Joanna has had the privilege of attending several receptions thrown by the Queen over the years – eating and drinking out of her “second hand” crockery.
She used the Queen as an unlikely example of how we can all reduce waste, with the great-grandmother a fan of being thrifty.
Rather than splashing out on new bedding – or even beds – it’s emerged the monarch rescued bedspreads from the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997.
Adam Helliker, author of a forthcoming book on the Royal Family, revealed the monarch swooped in to save the soft furnishings, and used them in all the main bedrooms at Balmoral.
Adam told Fabulous Digital: “In a materialistic world, how heartening to learn that the Queen continues to espouse frugalness in her royal households.
“Her Majesty is continuing to get good use from the bedspreads she rescued from the former Royal Yacht Britannia when the ship was decommissioned in 1997.”
And she is said to go one step further, with old bed covers given a new lease of life after they become frayed.
A source said: “They’ve lasted really well but the Queen has ordered that any which get too moth-eaten are cut up and made into cushion covers.”
Other examples of the Queen’s thriftiness include reusing string from parcels, recycling her wardrobe, and taking public transport occasionally.
She travelled to her Christmas break, in Norfolk, last year on a regular train, with her ticket thought to have cost around £50.
Phil Dampier, co-author of What’s In The Queen’s Handbag And Other Royal Secrets, says: “Very often when she’s at home she’ll be happy to have leftovers. She is careful with money and always watches the pennies.
“She has got handbags which she has had for 30 or 40 years and which she continues to use.”
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