When Queen Elizabeth Once Drank From a Finger Bowl to Save a Guest From Embarrassment
According to royal rules, guests at formal dinners must take their cues from the monarch.
The late Queen Elizabeth was well-known for her warmth and thoughtful nature, especially when it came to treating her guests with care. Almost everyone who met her often praised her ability to make people feel comfortable through small yet meaningful gestures. For instance, former royal butler Paul Burrell once revealed a remarkable moment involving the Queen and one of her special guests. She allegedly noticed the person sipping from a finger bowl during a formal meal, and rather than letting the situation become embarrassing, Elizabeth handled it calmly.
The situation occurred when the late monarch hosted a dinner for the local prince of Britannia. As per royal rules and etiquette, at formal dinners or banquets, all guests must take their cues from the monarch. As reported by HELLO Magazine, the moment the monarch takes their final bite and places down their cutlery, it signals the official end of the meal for the entire table. No matter how much food remains on a guest’s plate, they must stop eating immediately.
However, during the special dinner, the prince accidentally broke this rule. Burrell revealed the entire incident and said, "I was once on the Royal Yacht Britannia in the South Pacific and the Queen was hosting a dinner for a local prince. Dessert was served. The prince forgot to watch what the Queen did - instead, he popped the grapes into his finger bowl, then, some cherries, then, when the cream and sugar came out, he poured them in too, making a kind of fruit soup." He added, "I was standing behind the Queen, looking horrified. He was about to raise the bowl to his lips to drink it when he looked at the Queen and realized he had made a terrible mistake." However, Queen Elizabeth II handled the moment with grace, with the former royal butler recalling, “Not wanting to make him feel awkward, she picked up her finger bowl and took a sip. Now that’s class.”
Interestingly, such formal occasions also come with several other rules, which are typically followed even during grand ceremonies. For instance, guests are expected to follow all of the Queen's moves, beginning from the very moment they approach the table. No one can take their seat before the monarch does. Such rules reflect the deep-rooted traditions of the royal family.
In another instance, former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that the late Queen never preferred garlic in her meals. As reported by The List, McGrady said, "The queen would never have garlic on the menu. She hated the smell of it. She hated the taste of it." Moreover, the chef previously claimed that Elizabeth's dinner usually included things like grilled sole with vegetables and salad, and she was not so fond of potatoes, rice, or pasta. It is also worth noting that before any formal meal, the Queen was usually presented with a menu book to review the dishes in advance.
