The late Queen Elizabeth II, despite having access to a vast array of gourmet foods prepared by her private chefs, had a simple favorite: a jam sandwich. Afternoon tea was a cherished ritual for the Queen, who enjoyed a mix of savory and sweet treats, including scones and chocolate biscuit cake. One of her most beloved sandwiches, which she enjoyed since childhood, was known as a “jam penny.” This tradition of afternoon tea, typically held between 3:30 pm and 5 pm, is deeply ingrained in British culture.
Darren McGrady, a former royal chef who served the Royal Family for 15 years and trained at the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London, shared insights into the Queen’s favorite sandwich in a YouTube video. He explained that the “jam pennies” were a constant in the Queen’s diet from her childhood days in the nursery to her adult years. The sandwich was a simple combination of bread, jam, and a bit of butter, usually made with homemade strawberry jam using Scottish strawberries grown in the gardens of Balmoral Castle.
Another popular sandwich that the Queen enjoyed during afternoon tea was the cucumber sandwich. However, it was far from a simple affair. McGrady described how the cucumber’s flesh would be carefully peeled down to the watery seeds using a potato peeler. Instead of butter, the chef would spread a generous amount of cream cheese on the bread, add a hint of fresh spearmint, and then place cucumber ribbons on top.
Scones were another essential part of the Queen’s afternoon tea. Following the traditional Cornish method, she preferred to spread jam on her scones first, followed by a dollop of cream. McGrady recalled that regardless of where she was in the world, the Queen maintained her afternoon tea ritual. He recounted an instance when they were on the Royal Yacht in Australia; even though it was five o’clock in the morning, the Queen insisted on her afternoon tea, believing it was five o’clock in the afternoon. His first task on that trip was to prepare scones for her.
These culinary preferences highlight the Queen’s love for simple, traditional British fare, reflecting a taste for comfort foods from her childhood. McGrady’s accounts provide a glimpse into the Queen’s daily life and her appreciation for consistent, familiar foods, even amidst her many travels and engagements worldwide. Despite her access to elaborate and exotic foods, the Queen’s preference for straightforward, nostalgic snacks like “jam pennies” underscores a charming simplicity in her tastes.