Princess Margaret 'was not a fan' of Queen Elizabeth's royal-approved drink and the reason is enough to put anyone off
According to her former Lady-in-Waiting, the Queen's sister was once very blunt about the effect this beverage has on people
Princess Margaret had pretty luxurious tastes and enjoyed her royal life to the fullest, including taking a six-week long honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia. So it might come as a surprise to discover that Queen Elizabeth's younger sister wasn't keen on a drink most of us associate with celebrations and pushing the boat out.
Sipping champagne wasn't for Margaret, according to her former Lady-in-Waiting, Anne Glenconner. In her new book, Trunks & Tiaras, she describes how "a list of questions" would be passed to her "well in advance" of Margaret's visits so hosts could have all the Princess's favourite things ready for her.
"They'd want to know what she'd like to drink, to which the answer was gin and tonic at lunchtime and whisky and soda in the evening. Grouse whisky if possible," Lady Glenconner writes. "She was not a fan of champagne. She used to say it made people's breath smell of poo."
Of all the possible reasons for Princess Margaret not to like champagne, this didn't cross my mind for a second! Anne adds that this unfortunate effect is "not something you notice" if you're drinking champagne yourself "but easy to spot if you aren't".
It's enough to make anyone think twice the next time they're offered a glass of bubbly and yet it looks like Queen Elizabeth didn't share her sister's view. The late monarch was often pictured daintily sipping champagne at State Banquets and other formal occasions.
She also awarded Royal Warrants to multiple champagne houses throughout her reign, including Bollinger, Pol Roger and Veuve Clicquot. Over the years reports have even alleged that Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a glass of champagne before bed.
Whether or not that was the case, she clearly enjoyed the taste of champagne and surely wouldn't have drunk it at major events if she also felt it made one's breath "smell of poo". After all, the Queen was always circulating and talking to guests and she was conscious of not eating garlic or onions at mealtimes too.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady claimed to MailOnline in 2016 that during his time working in the palace kitchens they "could never serve garlic to the queen but Prince Philip loved it".
"When she was at the table, there was no garlic at all. She was very Victorian and believed when she was brought up that you don't eat garlic - because if you were holding an audience the next day, you didn't want to be breathing garlic. It was seen as anti-social," he added.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla has also spoken about the pungent ingredient before, telling her son Tom Parker Bowles in an interview for You magazine that she "avoids chili and garlic" too. She explained she still likes cooking for herself sometimes too and sounds like much more of a foodie than her mother-in-law and aunt-in-law.
Darren McGrady has alleged Queen Elizabeth used to eat "to live" and not the other way around, whilst Lady Glenconner notes that Princess Margaret "was not particularly interested in food and had very plain tastes".
"She didn't like meals to go on for hours, preferring to retire to a drawing room for coffee or whisky," the former Lady-in-Waiting says.
