Royals

Queen Elizabeth II has four cocktails a day, and she starts well before lunch

Cheers, Your Majesty!
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II, it would seem, values routine.

We’ve previously learnt that the royal has a favourite kind of cake — ‘chocolate biscuit,’ made by her Buckingham Palace chefs — that she has a slice of every single day.

She’ll only wear one shade of nail polish, Essie’s Ballet Slippers, and, if we’re being really nosy, we also know that she eats her pears like a boiled egg — cutting off the top and scooping out the insides with a spoon.

And now, according to a report from The Independent, which credits the monarch’s late cousin, Margaret Rhodes, we know the queen imbibes four drinks a day.

Per the report, enjoyed shortly before lunch, is a gin and Dubonnet with a slice of lemon and a “lot of ice.” Then, during the meal, she’ll raise her glass for a tipple of wine.

The monarch of more than six decades will then take a dry Martini and a glass of bubbly in the evening.

If you’re counting, that comes to 6 units per day, which would technically make Her Majesty a binge drinker by government standards.

But let’s leave well enough alone, shall we?

At 6 units per day, Her Majesty is a binge drinker by government standards.

The rather boozy insight follows the surprise departure of the queen’s current private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, who resigned from the post.

Sir Christopher, who has been with the palace since 2002, shared a statement explaining his decision. He also revealed his successor, Edward Young, will take over the role.

“It has been my very great privilege to serve the Queen since the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and, especially, as her private secretary for the past decade. In that time, as throughout her reign, Her Majesty’s authority has brought stability, purpose and colour to country and Commonwealth alike.”

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“With the Duke of Edinburgh’s recent decision to draw back from public life, the Queen’s own unwavering commitment as sovereign has the full and active support of the entire royal family.”

“It is therefore with every confidence, and with Her Majesty’s agreement, that I now hand over the responsibilities of the Queen’s private secretary to my successor, Edward Young.”

Christopher’s deputy first joined the royal household in 2004.

Sir Christopher has been with the palace since 2002.

His departure comes has been described as a shock, with the Mail on Sunday reporting that a dramatic shake-up is taking place as the Queen and Prince Charles try to impose greater unity on the rival “firms”, or households, of the younger royals.

The 91-year-old and Prince Philip, who retires from royal duty this week, have made no secret that they’re preparing to scale back their workload and hand the baton over to the younger generation.

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