The One Meal the Queen Insisted on Having Every Day of Her Life
Queen Elizabeth II lived a life that was anything but ordinary, yet one of her greatest joys was surprisingly simple. For more than 90 years, she held tight to her daily ritual of afternoon tea. Alongside the tea, she insisted on one particular treat that reminded her of her childhood and never let it go.
A Childhood Favorite That Never Left the Menu
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Long before she became Queen at age 25, Elizabeth discovered the joy of jam pennies. These were tiny, crustless sandwiches made with white bread, butter, and strawberry jam, cut into little circles about 3 centimeters wide, or the size of an old English penny. They were first introduced to her as a toddler, and quickly became her favorite snack. According to her former royal chef Darren McGrady, she enjoyed them every single day from the age of five until the end of her life.
The recipe often used strawberries grown on the Balmoral Castle estate in Scotland, where the family spent summers. While the rest of the world might consider such a treat an occasional indulgence, for the Queen it was an essential part of her daily routine.
Afternoon Tea, Everywhere and Anywhere
Afternoon tea has been a British tradition since the 1840s, introduced by the Duchess of Bedford as a way to bridge the long gap between lunch at noon and dinner, which was typically served closer to 9 PM. The Queen upheld the custom religiously. McGrady recalled once being on the Royal Yacht in Australia, where, at 5 AM local time, he had to prepare scones because it was teatime according to her clock.
Her spread usually included a mix of finger sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and scones with jam and clotted cream. The Queen preferred Earl Grey tea and alternated between plain and fruit scones. And for anyone curious about technique, she always spread jam first, cream second.
Sweet Tooth and Simple Pleasures
Though jam pennies and scones were her constants, the Queen had other favorites that gave her joy. She had what McGrady described as a “serious sweet tooth” and was particularly fond of chocolate. Chocolate eclairs, Victoria sponge cake, banana bread, and fruit cake were often on the menu. Her top choice, though, was Chocolate Perfection Pie, a rich dessert layered with dark and white chocolate and sprinkled with shavings. Still, she never overindulged. The Queen was known for having small portions, and enjoying four modest meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner.
On Fridays, she joined the staff in a more traditional British dish: fish and chips. Of course, her version was a little different. The fish was baked with a panko crust instead of fried, and the chips were hand-cut rectangles served with tarragon hollandaise. Even so, it was a meal that reflected her love of well-prepared, traditional food.
The Queen’s Table Lives On
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Afternoon tea became part of the Queen’s public image. During the COVID pandemic, the Royal Family released their recipe for fruit scones, noting that at garden parties, guests consumed over 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches, and 20,000 slices of cake each year.
One of the Queen’s last public moments that touched hearts around the world was her Platinum Jubilee sketch with Paddington Bear. She had tea with the character and pulled a marmalade sandwich from her handbag, a small reminder of her taste for simple, comforting food.