Does Queen Elizabeth Use a Parker?

[Sandy1]

Hi -- But what ink/s does Her Majesty use? -- BR S1 (Oh, I've emailed the white house to ask what inks are used for signing stuff, so this is a relevant question - in my mind anyway.) S1

[soapytwist]

Goodness; this topic is becoming as popular as a Lamy 2000 thread

[yttl]

Her Majesty uses a Burgundy Parker 51 which she has had since the 50'sit has a Gold-filled cap,[Not as some people might believe solid gold.] This is not my opinion, this is a fact.Don't ask me how I know, I just do O.K.?

Truffle Finder.

 

At the very end of the "Inside the Firm" episode, HM is seen writing up close (VERY up close) for maybe 3 seconds.

 

It does in fact appear to be with a burgundy P-51. (Can't verify the GFC, they only showed from the nib up a couple inches

to her fingers.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

Could it possibly have been a P61...?

 

Though ive only seen black ones before, so maybe not if it was burgandy.

 

--

YTTL

[Penman222]

Not sure about what Parker pen HRM writes with, but I loved the Elgar piece played at the proms. I spent 5 days staying a few blocks from Prince Albert Hall a few years ago, but never saw a concert there.

 

However, the thought of any person writing with the same "51" for almost 60 years is very heartwarming.

[richardandtracy]

Could it possibly have been a P61...?

 

Though ive only seen black ones before, so maybe not if it was burgandy.

 

--

YTTL

No, unfortunately not. It's definitely a P51. The shape was wrong for a P61 & I doubt that the arrow would be allowed to fall out & not be visible.

 

The British burgundy P51 & 61's are nearly the same colour, but the P51 retains its lustre much better, because the P61 plastic is soft & scratches up badly.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[greenapogee]

If anyone wanted confirmation of this, the first episode of "The Diamond Queen", currently available on iPlayer online (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bzw4b/The_Diamond_Queen_Episode_1/), has several seconds of close-up on the Queen whilst dealing with paperwork, including a close-up of what looks very much to me like a burgundy P51 with a silver or rolled gold cap:

 

http://i.imgur.com/OlRye.jpg

 

For anyone with access to iPlayer who wants to inspect, you want to go to about 35 minutes in!

[Mike 59]

Hi all, Anyone interested in what the Royal family writes with, two more views were shown on the second of three programs, this time views were on the Royal yacht 'Britannia'. One was a view of a black pen with gold band on the cap, the other was of a multi-coloured pen, red/black, with gold fittings. I can't identify them, others might.

[theverdictis]

On 11/7/2009 at 2:23 AM, bluenotegrl said:

I was watching a PBS show on the Royals last night and they had the Queen writing at her desk. I could swear she was using a Parker 51.

 

Anybody else see it? Was it a 51?

 

Cheers!

Yep,. Parker currently hold 2 Royal warrants, one from the Queen in 1962 and Prince Charles since 1990. Both are to provide writing instruments and inks to the them. 

[Sean1957]

The Queen is said to always use a Parker 51, or so I have been told. 

[corniche]

Yes, I've heard that the queen uses a Parker 51 from the early '60s. I don't know how the British royalty system works, but I've always wondered why Parker didn't present her with a new pen throughout the years; like a 95 or a Duofold, or the like.

 

- Sean 

 

[mizgeorge]

6 minutes ago, corniche said:

Yes, I've heard that the queen uses a Parker 51 from the early '60s. I don't know how the British royalty system works, but I've always wondered why Parker didn't present her with a new pen throughout the years; like a 95 or a Duofold, or the like.

 

- Sean 

 

You know, I don't think she'd be interested - though I have no doubt there are boxes of them around  She's from a generation that would probably prefer to have the one she has and likes repaired rather than replaced. 

[Mr.Rene]

4 hours ago, Sean1957 said:

The Queen is said to always use a Parker 51, or so I have been told. 

I have seen The Queen writing with Parker 51 in TV program recently. Perhaps she has more than a fountain pen really..for example..MB 149.

 

[crescentfiller]

19 minutes ago, Mr.Rene said:

I have seen The Queen writing with Parker 51 in TV program recently. Perhaps she has more than a fountain pen really..for example..MB 149.

 

 

 

 

Well, with the last name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, it's hardly surprising she uses a Montblanc!

 

 

 

 

[corniche]

1 hour ago, Mr.Rene said:

I have seen The Queen writing with Parker 51 in TV program recently. Perhaps she has more than a fountain pen really..for example..MB 149.

 

 

Thank you for posting this, Mr.Rene... I knew she must be holding out... and using more than just the one pen!!

 

I wonder if that's a Rainbow Set of the Harvard Classics, (by Colliers Publishing), in the background?   Looks a lot like them.

 

- Sean 

[corniche]

1 hour ago, mizgeorge said:

You know, I don't think she'd be interested - though I have no doubt there are boxes of them around  

 

 

1 hour ago, mizgeorge said:

She's from a generation that would probably prefer to have the one she has and likes repaired rather than replaced. 

 

True. 

 

- Sean 

[Heinkle]

I believe Parker did present her with a 2002 Golden Jubilee Duofold and then another for her 80th Birthday in 2006:

 

 

[Olya]

At her own desk(s) she's been pictured using her burgundy Parker 51 for decades, as well as Parker Jotters. I'm sure other pens have been used as well.

 

Official signings like above are a mix of own pen and provided pen, so unless there's a video to see where the pen came from, it's unclear whose it is.

 

She has been gifted pens from various companies over the years, but if they're not practical (i.e. too embellished, heavy etc) she won't use them.

 

Parker can only hold warrants for a set number of years after the last time they've done business (meaning they hold warrants for a few years still after a warrant giver's passing), the fact that they still have her and Charles's warrants means they most likely still provide their respective households (incl employees) with pens and inks.

[Aysedasi]

I confess I had no idea that The Queen uses a Parker, but I know Lady Penelope does........ 

[Kenlowe]

HM The Queen uses a Parker 51 for her own personal correspondence, it is also said that she has a special and unique ink. Parker approached the Queen and suggested that they would stop production of this ink due to the problems of producing this one-off colour in such small numbers and sent bottles of their current range in order that she might select something that was appropriate.

 

HM The Queen reminded Parker that they held the Royal Warrant for the supply of Pens and Inks, did they value that Royal Warrant for the supply of ink?

 

Parker decided to continue with the supply of the special ink colour.

 

 

[Aysedasi]

Nice one Madge!