Queen Elizabeth Gets Her Makeup Done Professionally Once a Year—And That’s It

Just because she’s the longest-standing British monarch doesn’t mean Queen Elizabeth has a glam squad at her beck and call. In fact, the 93-year-old royal only gets her makeup done professionally once a year.

Angela Kelly (the queen’s personal assistant and senior dresser) recently addressed the matter in her all-new memoir, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe.

While discussing the queen’s beauty routine, Kelly admitted that’s she’s so low maintenance, there’s only one instance when the monarch hires outside help: her annual Christmas speech broadcast.

The first broadcast was delivered by George V in 1932. Since then, the queen has turned the annual Christmas speech into a tradition for Brits and international viewers. It’s aired to the Commonwealth of Nations and focuses on what the holiday means to the monarch.

Queen Elizabeth’s beauty routine wasn’t the only topic discussed in Kelly’s memoir. The personal assistant dished on a slew of insider knowledge, including that Michelle Obama hug, the monarch’s James Bond cameo, her secret to breaking in shoes and how she uses gin to clean the queen’s diamonds. (Seriously.)

Still, one question remains: Does Queen Elizabeth really do her own makeup 364 days a year? Who knew?!