These Are The Royal Family's Favorite Drinks
Legend has it that when Princess Diana disguised herself as a man and went out for drinks with Freddie Mercury, she ordered herself a prosecco mixed with peach puree, otherwise known as a Bellini (via Thrillist). She'd have had plenty of time to refine her tastes in upscale booze. Reports place the value of Buckingham Palace's wine cellar at £2 million (or roughly $2.6 million), according to The Spirits Business.
Despite the Freddie Mercury rumors, Princess Diana was not a big drinker. Queen Elizabeth II, on the other hand, has made headlines. Remember the time that her former chef, Darren McGrady had to correct whispers that the Queen downed four drinks a day? "She'd be pickled if she drank that much," he told CNN. Not that we would blame her if she did. We tend to agree with Galileo, who was certain that "wine is sunlight, held together by water" (via The Grapevine Magazine). Besides, as a woman in her 90s who is still doing her royal duties, the Queen of England should be able to drink whatever she likes, no questions asked.
We'll certainly refrain from judging. You'll forgive us, however, if we permit ourselves to pry. Who wouldn't want to say cheers with British royalty?
Drink a gin and Dubonnet with the Queen
Want to treat yourself to a drink up to the Queen's standards? Prepare it with round ice cubes to avoid unnecessary "chinking" (via Independent). From there, opt for a gin martini at lunch (via Vanity Fair). Or, if you prefer, try a German sweet wine at dinner, followed by a glass Bollinger champagne before bed (via Hello Magazine and Cheat Sheet). Be warned. A bedtime (or any time) glass of Bollinger champagne will cost you a pretty penny. Some bottles of the champagne can run as high as $925 (via Premier Champagne).
Of course, you wouldn't be truly honoring the Queen if you didn't indulge in a mix of gin with Dubonnet sweet wine and a lemon twist. Otherwise known as the Dubonnet cocktail, the drink is rumored to be the Queen's favorite (via Thrillist). Wondering what gin to use? We're not making this up. In July 2020, Queen Elizabeth began selling her own, "Buckingham Palace Gin," made using lemon verbena, hawthorn berries, bay leaves, and mulberry leaves straight from Buckingham Palace garden (via International Business Times).
Down a Guinness with the Duchess of Cambridge
If gin's not your thing, try a "Crack Baby," the cocktail that Kate Middleton served up at her Royal wedding. To make it, mix vodka, raspberry liqueur, passion fruit, and Champagne (via Thrillist). Take it from a woman who co-founded a girls' drinking society at university because the old ones excluded women (via The Guardian).
What else does the Duchess of Cambridge enjoy sipping on? Jack Daniels, and — especially in celebration of St. Patricks Day — a good pint of Guinness (via Hello Magazine). Middleton's also been caught with a glass of Harvey's Bristol, a cream sherry that's best served chilled, with a slice of orange (via Harper's Bazaar). Finally (and don't tell Buckingham Palace we told you this), rumor has it that before Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge, she loved herself a Piña Colada (via Cheatsheet). Cheers!
Toast to Tignanello with the Duchess of Sussex
It'll be an Italian glass of red wine, Tignanello, for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Tignanello is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Markle had an epiphany when she sipped her first glass and told People that when she first drank the wine she "finally understood what people meant by the body, structure, finish, and legs of wine." She liked is so much that she even named her former lifestyle site, The Tig, after the vino.
Since then, the Duchess of Sussex has also professed to favor the pinot noir from Flowers Winery and the cabernet sauvignon from Jordan Winery, both from Sonoma, California (via Today). And there are, of course, days that wine just isn't going to cut it. When in search for something stronger, Markle opts for spicy tequila cocktails, Negronis, or a good, neat Scotch (via The New Potato).
Mix a vodka Redbull for Prince Harry
Amid whispers that Adele and Prince Harry have been spending time drinking together in Adele's Los Angeles mansion, you might be wondering — yes, but what (via Celebrity Insider)? If old habits are anything to go by, the sixth-in-line for the throne might be sipping on vodka Redbulls, with Cîroc Ultra-Premium Vodka, of course (via Thrillist).
Hello Magazine also notes that Windsor and Eton Brewery developed a limited-edition beer for Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding. Fittingly, the pale ale was a blend of English and American hops. Did he drink it on his big day? We're not sure. It may be more likely that he downed a shot of George Clooney's Casamigos tequila, which Clooney, himself, may have served up during the wedding's royal after-party (via Business Insider).
It's beer or Sambuca for Prince William
Fancy a pint with Prince William? Your best bet is to go with Stella Artois or Guinness (via Thrillist). The second-in-line to the throne is a good, old-fashioned, pub guy, and has been spotted enjoying beers at local pubs, including the Rose & Crown in Snettisham (via Hello Magazine).
That's not to say that Prince William has never enjoyed a good glass of liqueur. Thrillist reports that these days, Sambuca is his go-to shot. In his youth, however, things were different. Like his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William apparently enjoyed a good champagne cocktail. We mean, a good champaign cocktail. More than once the prince was caught red-handed, ordering Piccadilly club Mahiki's $180 "Treasure Chest": a sparkler-decorated concoction of brandy, peach liqueur, and an entire bottle of champagne.
What don't Prince Charles & the Duchess of Cornwall drink?
Prince Charles' favorite whiskey is a Laphroaig 15-year-old scotch. In addition, like his mother, the first-in-line-to-the-throne enjoys also a good gin-based cocktail. But where the Queen opts for gin and Dubonnet, Prince Charles likes a 50/50 Martini, made of equal parts gin and dry vermouth (via Thrillist).
Charles' tastes don't stop at the hard stuff. Don't let anyone tell you, for example, that Charles will turn down a glass of wine. He might get his taste for wine from his wife, Duchess Camilla, who claims to have been "brought up as a child drinking wine and water rather like the French," and has served as president of the U.K.'s Vineyard Association (via Hello Magazine). Duchess Camilla and Prince Charles have also been spotted mixing mojitos in Cuba and drinking Newton's Drop, Abbot ale, and Tricky Whu beers on their travels (via Harper's Bazaar).