Why Queen Elizabeth is the world’s most famous introvert

The Queen has only given one interview while a sovereign. Her true personality remains elusive to the public. However, one thing is clear: Queen Elizabeth is an introvert, or at the very least, an ambivert (here are 10 signs you might be one too).

Introverts prefer quiet environments and feel energized from spending time alone or with people they know well. They aren’t necessarily shy, but they do tend to be more reserved and guarded with strangers. Fellow introverts will appreciate how draining an average day for Her Majesty must be.

Fortunately, the Queen has some tricks to make public engagements easier. Just like us commoners rely on friends to save us from awkward situations or boring conversations, she subtly signals to her staff when she wants an intervention. If she places her handbag on the table, it indicates that she wants the event to end in the next five minutes. For more urgent situations, putting her bag on the floor shows that she wants her lady-in-waiting to rescue her immediately. Don’t miss these other fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth.

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Most comfortable in the countryside, the Queen has a well-known passion for horses and dogs. There is a scene in the hit Netflix show The Crown which reveals a fascinating side of the monarch. While giving Jackie Kennedy a personal tour of Buckingham Palace, the two women find themselves bonding over their respective positions as introverted women who have found themselves in the limelight. Surrounded by the Queen’s beloved corgis, both women admit they are happiest around animals and that their extroverted sisters would have been much better suited to their public roles.

In real life, the Queen has confessed she relies on the company of her corgis. Not only do they offer unconditional love, but they also serve as a way for her to break the ice with strangers. Walking them on the grounds of her palaces gives her time alone for the introspection that is essential to an introvert’s mental health.

Introverts take time to process their thoughts—a useful trait for someone who has the added pressure of remaining politically neutral at all times. Behind the scenes, those closest to the Queen say that she is warm and friendly. As well as being a loving mother and grandmother, she’s a loyal friend with a wicked sense of humor to rival her extroverted husband’s.

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[Source: Telegraph, Vanity Fair]

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