Princewill Pius
The red box, also called a “Despatch Box,” is meant to symbolize the “democratic system of government,” according to the box manufacturers, Barrow, Hepburn & Gale. The red boxes reportedly date back to Queen Elizabeth I and even accompany the monarch around the world on her many international trips.
Why are the boxes red? There are two theories. According to the box manufacturers, the first story claims that Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, simply preferred the color red, which was commonly used in the arms of his family. But there’s a second story, dating back to the 16th century, that narrates how Queen Elizabeth I’s representative, Francis Throckmorton, gifted the Spanish Ambassador, Bernardino de Mendoza, with a uniquely made red box filled with black puddings. The red box became a symbolic extension of the queen, or, more importantly, an extension of her communication.
Written by: Nicki
