Afternoon Tea – A Regular Royal Tradition

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Afternoon Tea A Regular Royal Tradition
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• The year was 1840, and the seventh Duchess of
  Bedford, Anna who was a lady of the
  bedchamber and good friend of Queen Victoria
  found herself feeling peckish one afternoon. The
  hunger pangs struck at around 4 oclock, and as
  the households evening meal wasnt until the
  fashionably late time of 8 oclock in the evening
  (in the summer months it would be even later),
  the thought of having to wait four long hours for
  a nibble and a sip, was simply too much for the
  Duchess to bear. So, she asked one of her
  servants to bring her some bread and butter and
  cake on a tray, along with a steaming hot cup of
  tea. Having found this mid afternoon snack and
  beverage much to her liking, it quickly became a
  habit of hers, and she was soon inviting her
  friends round to join her. Afternoon tea then
  became a fashionable event adopted by other well
  to do folks, and the women would dress up in long
  gowns and hats for the daily ritual, which
  usually occurred in the drawing room.

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• When Queen Victoria came to know of Annas
  afternoon tea and cake eating activities in the
  drawing room, she found the idea of it greatly
  pleasing and soon went along with it herself,
  often indulging in a slice of sponge cake with
  butter cream and raspberries to be washed down
  with her cup of tea. This cake later became the
  famous Victoria Sponge Cake that is still eaten
  and adored in England today.

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• Afternoon tea was a tradition soon adopted by the
  middle classes, too becoming an indulgent affair
  that wasnt just fit for royalty and due in part,
  to the price of tea going down and becoming more
  affordable for the average person.
• In drawing rooms and parlours across the length
  and breadth of England, afternoon tea was
  celebrated between 3 oclock and 5 oclock with a
  delectable selection of cakes, pastries,
  crust-less sandwiches and scones with clotted
  cream and strawberry jam.

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• Today, afternoon tea is still indulged in by the
  Queen when shes in residence at Buckingham
  Palace remaining a traditional affair that has
  changed little over the century. Sources close to
  the Queen state that this is a cherished time of
  the day for her, and a time when she can relax
  and spend some quality time with her Corgi dogs.
  Her favourite tea blends are said to be
  Darjeeling and Earl Grey.

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