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Right Royal cuppa: The Buckingham Palace builder who gave his tea order to The Queen by mistake

A builder got more than he bargained for after putting in a request for tea.

The workman was dismantling a desk at Buckingham Palace and was out of view when a “well-spoken” woman asked if he wanted some tea.

According to The Sun, he replied: “Yeah. In a mug. Two sugars. Builders’ tea.

“I don’t want any of that nonsense I had the last time I was here, all that fine china and all that saucer stuff.”

The woman returned and said: “I’ve put your tea on the table here.”

The builder looked up and saw the Queen leaving the room.

Little did the builder know that the woman he had spoken to was the Queen.

The story is told in Channel 5’s four-part series Secrets of the Royal Palaces by Kevin Andrews, the Queen Mother’s upholsterer.

Former palace chef Darren McGardey has previously said that the Queen’s favourite way to have tea is Twinings Earl Grey tea with a splash of milk and no sugar.

Twinings has had a long association with the monarchy, as they’ve had a royal warrant since 1837.

Royal butler Grant Harrold shared more light in 2018 on the Queen’s tea habits. Apparently she favours Earl Grey and Assam.

"I am sure the Queen enjoys her [tea] the traditional way, made with tea leaves in a teapot and poured into a fine bone china teacup. She will also use a strainer," he said, according to Nine Honey.

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