Queen Elizabeth II at Queen's Park.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is known for her particular choices when it comes to picking royal clothiers and her selection of glove-maker is no different. Cornelia James, founded by then Cornelia Lawson, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Europe has been supplying the Queen since 1947.

The East Sussex based family company is now run by her daughter Genevieve Lawson, who recently revealed to the Daily Mail that the Queen has her gloves repaired where possible rather than replacing them.

The British paper adds that “in 2010 she carried out 444 engagements, and a conservative estimate of 100 handshakes per visit equals 44,400 for that year alone.”

An entry on Cornelia James’ website tells of the history and origins of the brand; “Cornelia had studied art and design in Vienna and arrived in England as a refugee in 1939. After the war, in a world made drab by rationing, the leather gloves that she made in a huge range of colors became fashion essentials. Vogue magazine profiled her as “the color Queen of England” and Cornelia quickly established a thriving business supplying gloves to couturiers and leading stores.”

The company also serves a who’s who of British celebrities including other members of the royal family, Madonna and Kate Moss.