Palace Staff Follow a ‘Strict Etiquette’ When Preparing Beverages for the Royals, Says Ex Butler
Just like everyone else, even the royals cherish a warm cup of afternoon tea. But when it comes to coffee, the monarchy’s customs are just as carefully governed and strictly followed. Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who once served King Charles, revealed that even a simple cup of coffee comes with precise rules. From when cream may be poured to how the cup is placed, nothing is left to chance. "In royal households, there is a strict etiquette when it comes to serving coffee and tea,” Harrold explained in an interview with Coffee Friend.
According to the former butler, timing plays a crucial role here. "Cream is never added to coffee during the day; it is only used in the evening, and always after 10:30 p.m.," he stressed. "During the day, milk is used instead, and it is always added after the coffee has been poured." Such orderliness, he noted, shows the same discipline found in other royal habits. Apart from this, even presentation, too, carries great weight. "Coffee is served in a demi cup after dinner, while a teacup with a saucer is used during the day," he shared.
He also revealed that tea bags are rarely seen in palace kitchens. Instead of that, loose tea leaves are preferred for a finer brew. “While tea bags are occasionally used, the royals much prefer traditional loose tea leaves for a more refined experience," he explains. Each beverage has its own proper vessel, and even the placement of a teaspoon follows long-standing custom. These rituals might seem subtle to many, but they define the rhythm of daily life inside the palace.
Interestingly, when it came to personal choices, Queen Elizabeth II was steadfast in her love for tea. "The only time I saw her having a freshly brewed cup of coffee was after an event in the evening," he recalled. With her tea, the late monarch also loved to snack on a slice of chocolate cake or a biscuit. Following the footsteps of his mother, even Charles preferred tea sweetened with honey instead of sugar, a practice he also follows with his coffee. As a snack, he likes to have "a Bath Oliver biscuit alongside” his tea.
Other royals also have their own tastes within the boundaries of etiquette. For instance, Queen Camilla enjoys coffee, with the former butler adding she "reportedly ordered a cappuccino from Cafe Barni, which is quite milky coffee," while visiting Florence in 2017. Princess Kate is known to favor oat milk lattes. Harrold shared that Kate was also "spotted ordering a skinny decaf latte from Starbucks in 2013 when she was pregnant." On the other hand, Prince William balances both tea and coffee depending on the day. "During a 2022 trip to Cornwall, he revealed he drank a few cups [of coffee] a day," Harrold says. "He also said he enjoys tea in the morning with milk and sugar."