Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip travelled to Zambia in Africa on a royal tour in 1979 (Image: Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their son Prince Andrew all travelled to Zambia in Africa on a royal tour in 1979. It was a trip that was of concern due to the potential safety of the Queen during the visit. News broke that a VIP flight had been attacked in Zambian air space ahead of the proposed royal tour. Many believed she did should not go, but Queen Elizabeth was determined to visit, wrote Robert Hardman in his 2018 book Queen of the World.
Queen Elizabeth II: Monarch packed this unlikely item on Zambia royal tour
“Neither the Queen nor her officials were giving any thought to cancellation,” Hardman said. “Rather they were already planning their packing.”
The monarch was set to include a rather surprising item in her packing - alcohol.
Hardman narrated: “The British High Commission was bombarded with questions… The Master of the Royal Household wanted to know the precise dimensions of the plates that he hoped to use at his state banquet.
“He would also require twelve dozen bottles of tonic water and six dozen of soda.”
Hardman added: “The Queen would bring her own spirits to go with it.”
Elizabeth is not the only member of the Royal Family to bring her own supply of
