How the Queen eats scones could divide her royal subjects

How the Queen eats scones is sure to spark debate once again amongst the Brits and lovers of Afternoon Tea

Queen Elizabeth II recently revealed how she eats scones
(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Brits traditionally love their Afternoon Tea, replete with patisseries, different blends of tea, finger sandwiches, and, of course, the scone. The Royal Family are no different, reportedly settling down for afternoon tea at around 5pm, wherever in the world they might be. However, it’s the way the Queen takes her scones that might prove shocking to her subjects—jam first or cream first has long been a fiercely debated topic. 


Many wonder what the Queen eats and although we know the Queen has some strict likes and dislikes little is known about the minutiae of her diet. However, now it's known how she takes her scones, there may be an uproar from her subjects.

Scones. Though they may not seem it, they hold great power over Brits.

Scones provoke fierce debate and discussion across the nation, as people argue over how the word is actually pronounced—some opt for scone to rhyme with gone, others to rhyme with cone—and then further arguments arise as to how they should actually be eaten.

Queen Elizabeth II with some scones

(Image credit: Sharon Smith-Pool/Getty Images)

Traditionally, scones are served with cream and jam.

However, there isn’t much agreement on which one gets spread on the scone first.

The traditional Cornish method would involve putting the jam on first, adding the cream atop the jam.

The Devonshire way of doing things reverses that—cream first, then jam.

For the Queen, she’s sided with the people of Cornwall.

Scones served at an Afternoon Tea

(Image credit: Getty)

Darren, who worked as a royal chef for 15 years after receiving his formal training at prestigious London hotel, The Savoy, has said of the Queen’s afternoon tea habits: “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 5am but for the Queen, it was 5pm so my first job was making scones.”

As for the rest of Her Majesty’s Afternoon Tea habits? Another former royal chef, Owen Hodgson, previously told the Telegraph that the Queen’s favourite sandwich was tuna mayonnaise.

She likes her sandwich well buttered and served with thin slices of cucumber, and a sprinkle of pepper.

So, the next time you serve an Afternoon Tea,  will you try doing it the Queen's way?

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.

Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.