Queen's favourite sandwich she had 'for every afternoon tea' since she was a girl

Edinburgh Live

25-05-2025

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Queen Elizabeth II, known for her consistency, particularly relished her afternoon tea, a ritual she devoutly maintained irrespective of her location worldwide.
The late Queen's itinerant Royal obligations saw her traversing the globe, where an ensemble of skilled personal chefs ensured her daily culinary needs were met; yet, for her favourite tea-time sandwich, an insider has disclosed that from childhood, Her Majesty consistently favoured a rather straightforward option.
Typically, the late monarch and Royal Family partake in their afternoon tea within a window of 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm, indulging in an array of savoury items alongside sweet pleasures such as her beloved chocolate biscuit cake.
READ MORE -Kate Middleton's brilliant response after being mistaken for William's assistant
READ MORE -Kate Middleton's 'very strict' rule for her children 'just as important as maths'
Darren McGrady, a former Royal chef who spent 15 years preparing meals for the Royals and trained at London's prestigious Savoy Hotel, once shared insights into the Queen's preferred sandwich.
Marking the reinvigoration of Buckingham Palace garden parties, McGrady recounted in a YouTube video how jam pennies became one of the queen's cherished afternoon delights, reports the Mirror.
His words were clear: "The Queen was served jam pennies in the nursery as a little girl. She's had them for afternoon tea ever since. It's 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."
For those unable to access the poll, a link is provided here.
Former Royal chef Owen Hodgson disclosed that the late Queen was quite partial to a tuna mayonnaise sandwich, appreciating it well buttered with delicate cucumber slices and a dash of pepper.
Her afternoon tea rituals were renowned, indeed no high tea would be complete without the classic scones, which she savoured using the Cornish tradition of jam first, followed by cream.
McGrady, another former Royal culinary expert, reflected: "She'd always have afternoon tea wherever she was in the world. We'd flown out to Australia and were on the Royal Yacht. It was five o'clock in the morning, but for the Queen, it was five in the afternoon, so my first job was making scones."
Adding to his memories, he shared: "When I started as a young chef at Buckingham Palace, it was fascinating to see how important afternoon tea was to the Queen."
He detailed her enjoyment of "full afternoon tea of sandwiches and pastries".
Notably, he mentioned the variety in her scone preference: "In terms of scones - one day plain and one day with raisins folded through," alongside "Also, tiny pastries like raspberry tartlets and a cut cake, honey and cream sponge, fruit cake, banana bread, or her favourite chocolate biscuit cake. It would all be 'washed down with a delightful steaming hot cup of Earl Grey tea.", all accompanied by "Also, tiny pastries like raspberry tartlets and a cut cake, honey and cream sponge, fruit cake, banana bread, or her favourite chocolate biscuit cake. It would all be 'washed down with a delightful steaming hot cup of Earl Grey tea."