Queen Elizabeth II not only holds the title for longest-standing monarch, she’s also topped the list for the most cards ever sent. Having sent over a million cards to centenarians and couples marking their Diamond Wedding Anniversaries, she is one of the most prolific card senders in history.
In contrast to the Queen’s commitment to putting pen to paper though, Inkpact - which helps brands engage customers through handwritten notes - found more than a quarter of Brits (27%) never receive a handwritten card or letter.
Inkpact has teamed up with graphologist and psychotherapist, Emma Bache, to explore how handwritten letters communicate much more than the words on the page and why letters continue to matter in today’s digital world. “The written word retains the power of intimacy and leaves potential for historians and sociologists to understand the relationships between author and recipient in a way that no other form of communication has ever done”, said Emma.
“A handwritten letter can be so potent that it can change life for the better for both sender and recipient. Throughout history, women in particular have allowed us to glimpse into their lives and loves through the handwritten letter. These letters have helped to form history and reveal the private lives beneath the public persona."
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Inkpact and Emma analysed powerful letters from people including Princess Diana, Beyonce and Frida Kahlo to see what hidden messages lie beneath the words on the page.
HRH QUEEN ELIZABETH II
This 1960 letter to President Eisenhower gives the reader an insight into the special relationship between the US and UK. The letter itself is of an informal nature but also the writing is speedy and even includes a spelling correction which is a far cry from the more formal style that we are used to seeing in her handwriting.
The words have an uneven baseline, showing her relaxed but optimistic mood. The long tall loops on the ‘l’s and ‘h’s reveal a vivid imagination but there are signs of impatience with missing horizontal bars on the letter ‘f’ and incomplete ’t’ bars.
The choice of pen nib is relatively broad which indicates a hidden sensual side to her nature as well as her love of the outdoors and physical activity. In this informal letter we get a glimpse of Her Majesty with her guard down - a little impatient and far more emotional than the stoic public image she usually portrays.
QUEEN VICTORIA
In this very poignant letter from Queen Victoria to the women of Great Britain and Ireland, we see a rare insight into the emotions of a woman in mourning for her late husband, Prince Albert.
The writing has a strong right slant and extremely long lower zone strokes on letters such as ‘y’ and ‘g’ and some of the letters tangle with the next line. These writing traits show that Queen Victoria was a natural communicator and she displays warmth and love as well as an enjoyment of all sensual activities, such as food and sex.
This important letter not only oozes emotion and sentiment but also allows us to see a
woman that is enigmatic and at times conflicted between her duty to the country and her personal feelings. Queen Victoria’s public image was a stern and humourless one but her handwriting displays a sensuality that shows us a more passionate woman.
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES
The late Princess Diana was known to be a prolific letter writer and she kept aside
time each day to write thank you letters. In this thank you letter written shortly before her death we see her characteristic informal and affectionate style of personality.
The slant of the handwriting is vertical, revealing a more practical side to her personality and a thoughtful ability to plan. Her writing shows many rounded features as well as cradling loops to her ‘g’s and ‘y’s. It is obvious that she was a maternal character and deeply sensitive to the plight of others but her writing also shows her need for love and approval from those around her.
Although the overall size of her writing is large there are some large gaps between the
words. She was torn between her need for company and her need to retreat to solitude.
Princess Diana has underlined her signature which is one indication that she liked to have her own way and could be stubborn even though she had many characteristics of an extremely loving and outgoing nature. But overall, Diana’s handwriting very much reflects the public’s view of her - a caring, empathic and outgoing young woman.
FRIDA KAHLO
This letter between Frida Kahlo and her lover and photographer, Nickolas Muray, shows her passion, not only with her words, but the hidden graphological interpretation of her personality.
There is a pleasant fluidity and rhythm to the writing which suggests high intelligence and stability. There is balance between the height and lower length of the individual letters and despite her obvious creative talents, she was also intellectual and a deep thinker. The angled starting strokes to the letters indicate that she did not like to be rushed into projects or ideas and she was very independent and self-reliant.
However, there is much light and shade within the writing which not only resonates with her need for romance and drama. The writing shows that she had a febrile and enquiring mind that could bore easily so it is possible that her passions may have been short lived or at least volatile. Her personal pronoun curls in on itself and is indicative of a character that was prone to self-reflection. This letter is a good example of the private and public image of Kahlo in harmony.
BEYONCE
Beyonce’s script is extremely vertical with a large and slow handwriting style. She chooses her words extremely carefully and is very used to being in the limelight. It is important for her to be noticed, and she can be resolute and determined to get what she wants out of life.
The space between the words is small but so are the spaces between the letters themselves. It is hard for her to relax and certainly to show her true feelings towards other people, suggesting life in the spotlight has made her wary of others’ true motives.
She is controlled and is good with detail and planning and is somewhat of a perfectionist. Her signature appears to hug the left hand side of the page which can be an indicator of a writer who fears the unknown. Indeed the signature itself is closely packed together like a coiled spring. It would be difficult to get Beyonce to open up unless you happen to be a very close friend or relative.
Beyonce’s public image is perhaps a little more flamboyant than the more controlled
individual that is shown in her graphological analysis. What’s clear is that she’s the ultimate professional - hardworking and a careful planner as well as a talented and adored performer!
