Afternoon tea is a hallmark of British cuisine, and the late Queen was thought to have sat down for the ritual every day throughout her reign. From delectable scones to sweet cakes, each element of a royal afternoon tea is made from scratch by expert chefs at the royal residences.
But you then have the delectable afternoon tea with a sparkling option or a two course lunch to enjoy at an impressive hotel situated on the River Thames at the Embankment. Buckingham Palace State Rooms Opening Dates: 15th July to the 29th September 2024.
Royal tradition says Afternoon Tea is celebrated “between 3 pm and 5 pm with an assortment of cakes, pastries, dainty sandwiches and, of course, scones with clotted cream, curd, and strawberry preserves.”
Posted on the Royal Family Instagram page, it read: “Every year at Garden Parties across The Royal Residences, over 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed! The Royal Pastry Chefs are happy to share their recipe for fruit scones.”
It's really, really important when making tea is that it's made in a teapot—that is a real cup of tea." McGrady also shared that the Queen's favorite meal is "probably" afternoon tea. "The Queen had afternoon tea every day, wherever she was in the world.
Afternoon Tea At Buckingham Palace (In The Queen's Garden - Or Yours!)
What did Queen Elizabeth eat for afternoon tea?
The Queen enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea that included finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off; her favourite fillings included choices like smoked salmon and cream cheese or egg mayonnaise. She also had scones with jam and cream – with the jam on first.
Tea time remains an important tradition in the royal family today. Queen Elizabeth II was known to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey tea in the morning, while King Charles is a fan of Darjeeling tea. The royal family also hosts an annual garden party at Buckingham Palace, where guests are treated to tea, sandwiches, and cakes.
Queen Elizabeth adhered to a daily teatime meal; her preference for delicate sandwiches with the crusts cut off was well-publicized. Her favorite version was reported to be smoked salmon with cream cheese. If the old adage is true, one should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper.
What's the difference between afternoon tea and high tea?
Whilst they both include tea as a beverage, afternoon tea includes delicate pastries, little sandwiches, scones and cakes. Whereas high tea is typically a more wholesome meal of meat, potatoes and vegetables served after a long hard day at work.
He continued: "Simple, just bread and jam with a little butter - usually strawberry jam. We'd make the jam at Balmoral Castle with the gorgeous Scottish strawberries from the gardens." Another sandwich that The Queen is known to be fond of is a simple tuna mayo.
The Queen drinks loose leaf tea, which once it's brewed is poured through a strainer into a bone china cup, before a splash of milk is added. We understand the Queen also enjoys Assam.
How do you get invited to Buckingham Palace tea Party?
Who gets invited to Royal garden parties? Each year the Lord-Lieutenant is asked to nominate individuals who may wish to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace. All persons nominated must be British citizens, resident in the United Kingdom and living within the Lieutenancy area of Bedfordshire.
What do you wear to afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace?
Fabrics should be light and airy: silk, linen, cotton mix or lightweight jersey works well. It's best to do the hand crumple test with the linen as, depending on the quality of the fabric, some linens crease worse than others. You don't want to look as if you've slept in your outfit within minutes of putting it on.
As an avid cook, the Duchess is said to prepare her royal husband roast chicken which is said to be his favourite dinner. In 2012, royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told Vanity Fair of the Duchess: "In the evenings she indulges her hobby of cooking William's favourite supper, roast chicken."
Does the Queen ever cook for herself? McGrady says that while Prince Philip was an “amazing chef” and regularly enjoyed cooking on the grill and having family BBQs on the Balmoral estate, and the younger royals like William, Kate, Meghan and Harry, all enjoy cooking, the Queen herself stays out of the kitchen.
Stuffed peppers was one of Princess Di's favorite dinners. This good-for-you dish was packed with veggies like zucchini and mushrooms, so we can see why she loved it.
The Queen and her mother both shared the same taste in alcohol. Their preferred drink is a Gin and Dubonnet: three parts Dubonnet, seven parts gin, with lemon and a lot of ice. The Queen is said to drink one every day before lunch – one of four drinks she has been reported to enjoy daily.
The Queen adored tea so much that whenever she travelled, she took with her a supply of her favourite teabags – and a portable kettle. And she wasn't above making her own cuppa. Back in 2019, the then 94-year-old made a workman a cup of tea who was dismantling a desk in Buckingham Palace.
In 2020, a former royal chef revealed his recipe for Kate's favourite dessert. Darren McGrady, 60, who worked as a personal chef to the Queen, as well as Princess Diana and Prince William and Harry, revealed Kate Middleton often cooks her own meals and even does her own grocery shopping.
They might have their own chefs at home, but even the royals like to go out to eat sometimes. Many members of the Royal Family are based in London, and eagle-eyed diners might spot them enjoying a bite to eat at one of the capital's finest restaurants – if you know where to look.
She will also use a strainer." Grant went on to note that the Queen always adds milk to the cup after the tea because it is the "proper" way of doing things. "Since the 18th century, the 'proper' way of brewing tea has been to serve tea before milk, and this is something that the British royals adhere to,” he said.
