Prue Leith Recalls Awkward Tea-Making Encounter with Queen Elizabeth II

Prue Leith, known for her role on “The Great British Bake Off,” shared a memorable and awkward encounter involving serving tea to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Leith recounted the experience via a video on the show’s official Instagram page, revealing the challenges she faced in meeting the royal preferences for tea.

According to Leith, she was tasked with serving tea to Queen Elizabeth during a building opening event where she was the caterer. Anticipating the importance of the moment, Leith decided to call the palace to inquire about the Queen’s preferred way of taking tea. However, this inquiry proved more challenging than expected, as the palace staff, specifically an equerry, refused to disclose the details, treating it as a “state secret.” Instead, Leith was advised to serve the tea on a silver tray, accompanied by a teapot with hot water and lemon slices.

Leith recounted the event, noting that after a long tour of the building, the Queen appeared eager for tea. As Queen Elizabeth approached, Leith asked, “Black or white, ma’am?” to which the Queen replied, “Black, please.” As Leith prepared the tea with a slice of lemon by mistake, the Queen interjected, “No lemon, thanks.” Leith then found herself in an awkward predicament, as she had no second cup to correct the mistake, leading to a stain on the tray from the lemon-soaked tea.

Attempting to remedy the situation, Leith added hot water to the tea, assuming that those who preferred black tea liked it weak. However, she soon realized her error when the Queen remarked, “I like it strong,” highlighting Leith’s misstep in preparing the desired strong black tea.

Despite the mishap, Queen Elizabeth apparently bore no ill will. In 2021, Leith was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to food, broadcasting, and charity.

Leith is not alone in experiencing royal jitters. Actress Helen Mirren once shared her own anxiety about addressing members of the royal family appropriately, indicating that such encounters can be daunting even for seasoned professionals.

Fans of “The Great British Bake Off” and Leith took to social media in response to her story, with some humorously blaming the equerry for not providing better guidance, while others speculated on whether the Queen shared the tale with her own playful perspective.