As the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II has access to many of the finest things in life – from palaces to jewelry to works of art. However, even the Queen has to buy groceries and run errands like the rest of us commoners. So where does Her Majesty get her weekly shopping done?
The Queen’s Residences
The Queen splits her time between a number of official residences across the UK. Her main London home is Buckingham Palace, while she spends many weekends at Windsor Castle. She also frequently stays at Sandringham House in Norfolk and Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Each of these residences has dedicated staff who help with housekeeping, maintenance, and of course, stocking the kitchens.
The Queen also has access to well-stocked kitchens and pantries at each estate. Fresh fruits and vegetables often come from gardens on the grounds. At Balmoral, there is a large vegetable garden that supplies produce like potatoes, cabbage, and carrots. There are also several greenhouses where staff can grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and a variety of herbs year-round.
In addition to homegrown ingredients, the royal residences order many grocery items in bulk from suppliers. This includes staples like bread, milk, eggs, meat, and dry goods. However, the Queen and her family also enjoy trying new flavors and specialty items, so they make regular grocery store trips too.
Local Shops Near the Palaces
When the Queen wants to pick up a few items or peruse the aisles herself, she visits local shops near her various homes. At Buckingham Palace, there are several small grocery stores she can drive or walk to if she so desires.
According to royal insiders, the Queen has occasionally visited the Waitrose supermarket on Buckingham Palace Road. She also used to stop at La Garrigue, a charming French patisserie less than a mile from the palace that closed in 2016. Former staff members say that Queen Elizabeth would sometimes pick up a baguette or nab a few macarons while out and about in the neighborhood.
The Queen has also become a regular patron at Partridges, a gourmet grocery store on nearby Duke of York Square. Partridges has a reputation for supplying fine foods to wealthy Londoners as well as five-star hotels in the capital. An employee of the store told The Telegraph that, “The Queen has been coming in for years. She likes our sandwiches – cucumber, smoked salmon, egg and mayonnaise, that sort of thing.”
The Queen’s Favorite Grocery Items
So what kinds of items end up in the Queen’s shopping basket during these neighborhood grocery runs? She has some rather ordinary tastes and preferences when it comes to food.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady has said that Queen Elizabeth enjoys eating fresh fruit every day. She starts with grapefruit at breakfast, then will have a bowl of fruit salad with yogurt and honey by lunchtime. Her favorite fruits are said to be mangoes, cherries, and peaches when they are in season.
In the afternoon, the Queen typically has afternoon tea, complete with scones, pastries, and cakes. To satisfy her sweet tooth, she might pick up English classics like lemon tarts, eclairs, or chocolate biscuits at a bakery.
For breakfast, the Queen is partial to Tiptree Little Scarlet strawberry preserves, which she slathers on toast and scones. She also reportedly enjoys scrambled eggs or poached fish in the mornings. And of course, she drinks Earl Grey tea by Twinings, her favorite brand.
As for healthier options, the Queen stocks up on fresh vegetables to incorporate into meals and snacks. Carrots are said to be one of her go-to’s for dipping. She also enjoys fresh salads with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and cheese, dressed lightly with vinaigrette.
When it comes to indulgences, the Queen has been known to sip on a gin and Dubonnet cocktail before lunch, wine with dinner, and a nightcap of champagne. She does not appear to frequent liquor stores, though – bottles from the royal cellars are enough to quench her thirst!
Grocery Shopping at Balmoral
When the Queen retreats to Balmoral Castle during the summer months, she reportedly enjoys visiting the shops in the nearby village of Ballater personally. The small town of just over 1,500 people is home to several quaint stores, including a butcher’s shop, fishmonger, cheese shop, and bakery.
At the butcher W. A. Robertson, the Queen can pick out fresh cuts of Scottish beef, lamb, salmon, and poultry. She is said to favor venison that is hunted locally at Balmoral. The fishmongers CS Shell & Co specializes in salmon and seafood from the Scottish coast. And Macbeth’s bakery offers freshly baked breads, cakes, and pastries.
Braemar is another village frequented by the Queen that is just 14 miles from Balmoral. She has occasionally dropped into Braemar’s Melvich’s butcher shop and Deeside Stores for any grocery items or household goods she needs during her vacation.
Balmoral staff have revealed that the Queen has sometimes been spotted out shopping wearing a simple headscarf or coat instead of her usual elegant attire and hat. But even dressed down, Her Majesty likely attracts attention and excitement when browsing the local shops.
Have Prices Gone Up? Inflation’s Impact
While money is no object for the Queen, she may have noticed price inflation affecting some of her regular grocery items like everyone else. In 2022, food costs rose sharply across the UK, driven by increased production costs, supply chain issues, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages hit 16.2% in October – the highest jump since 1980. The costs of basics like milk, eggs, cheese, and meat have all climbed significantly. Produce prices have also shot up – lettuce prices nearly tripled over the past year.
This means the Queen is likely paying more today for her Cheddar cheese sandwiches and Tiptree jam than she did two years ago. And the cost of the ingredients for an afternoon tea has certainly gone up.
Of course, the Queen has ample resources to keep the royal pantries stocked no matter the price hikes. But for British subjects facing a cost-of-living crisis and relying on food banks, the grocery inflation has caused serious hardship.
The economic instability has added to the challenges of King Charles III’s new reign. However, the royals remain hopeful that grocery costs will stabilize in 2023 with moderating inflation forecasts. Though the Queen did not live to see the end of the food price surge, she weathered many periods of economic turbulence throughout her 70 years on the throne.
Online Grocery Delivery?
One grocery shopping innovation that became popular during the Queen’s later years was online ordering and delivery services. Companies like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado allow customers to shop from home and get their groceries shipped to their door.
Would the Queen ever have taken advantage of this convenience like Prince Charles did during the pandemic? Most royal experts think it is unlikely she would have abandoned making her own market runs. At age 96, the Queen was still quite active and independent. She seemed to enjoy maintaining small rituals like walking the grounds of Windsor Castle and getting fresh air.
However, Ordering groceries online may have appealed to Prince Philip in his later years as he struggled with mobility issues before his passing in 2021. The Queen did have an iPhone, so perhaps she would have been open to tech solutions to simplify shopping as she reached extremely old age.
It is possible the royal household staff placed online grocery orders on the Queen’s behalf when she was unable to go out. But it is unlikely the monarch delegated such a basic task completely. She seemed to relish making her own food selections and interacting with local merchants. So we can safely assume in-person grocery shopping remained part of Her Majesty’s routine up until her final months.
Impact on Local Businesses
One interesting consequence of the Queen popping into neighborhood stores is the impact her patronage has on those businesses. The royal warrant – essentially the Queen’s seal of approval – is highly coveted and can bring immense prestige. Brands like Heinz, Kellogg’s, Twinings, and many other food companies proudly display the royal warrant on their products.
For the smaller shops personally frequented by Queen Elizabeth, her regular presence is a unique advantage. Partridges department store highlights on its website that it has been “Grocers to Her Majesty since 1991.” The nearby Waitrose also advertises that it is “Proud to supply groceries to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Having such a high-profile customer provides invaluable word-of-mouth marketing for these food retailers in the capital. Customers and tourists flock to stores known to be frequented by British royalty hoping to pick up the Queen’s favorite biscuits or sandwiches.
Some luxury establishments even display signs or notes reading “By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen,” signaling they have been granted a royal warrant. For a business fortunate enough to have had Queen Elizabeth as a loyal repeat customer for years or decades, it represents a great honor.
Privacy and Security
As reigning monarch, the Queen had to balance personal desires for freedom and normalcy with the realities of extremely high public status for over 70 years. Often, these opposing forces resulted in necessary compromises.
Grocery shopping allowed the Queen some semblance of routine independence and freedom. She was likely not bothered or supervised directly during these quick local outings. However, her security detail was always close by keeping watch unobtrusively.
The public was usually respectful of keeping their distance and allowing the Queen privacy, only speaking or waving briefly. If crowds ever became disruptive, security could escort her away quickly.
The risk was greater when the Queen traveled beyond her local routine to places farther from home. But she was always guarded by plainclothes police officers and never went completely unprotected in public spaces.
Maintaining privacy and security enabled Her Majesty to enjoy everyday shopping trips that most citizens experience safely. She would not have been able to visit public places like grocery stores otherwise as the crowds and risks would be too unmanageable. With prudent precautions, she balanced personal freedom and public role admirably for many decades.
Impact of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2020 had wide-ranging impacts on society, including changing shopping habits. With lockdowns and fears over virus transmission initially keeping people at home, online grocery shopping surged. Even now, more consumers have permanently opted for delivery services.
For the Queen, the pandemic may have temporarily curtailed some of her regular grocery store trips. Early in the crisis, she isolated at Windsor Castle with a skeleton staff. Prince Philip was flown in from Sandringham to join her, in order to isolate together. Their household observed quarantine protocols and social distancing to minimize COVID risks.
This likely meant the Queen’s in-person grocery outings were put on hold in spring 2020. However, Windsor Castle has large gardens as well as indoor growing areas. The staff maintained steady supplies of fresh produce to feed the royals.
With prudent precautions, the Queen resumed a limited public schedule and some travel to Balmoral within several months. Vaccinations added another layer of protection against the virus for Her Majesty. It appears COVID did not substantially disrupt the monarch’s shopping habits long-term.
Of course, some of the Queen’s favorite local stores were forced to close temporarily during lockdowns. But Windsor retailers welcomed her back as restrictions eased. They have expressed that her continuing patronage provided a morale boost during an uncertain time.
Environmental Impact
In today’s eco-conscious society, the environmental footprint of grocery shopping choices matters more than ever. Royal family members including Charles, William, and Kate have taken stands on issues like climate change and sustainability.
However, the Queen was of a generation less likely to prioritize green living in their habits. Convenience and personal preference tended to rule her shopping decisions.
To have groceries delivered from local stores, the Queen’s staff would have driven by car or truck – adding to emissions. Having produce shipped from royal properties was more carbon-friendly, but student groups have criticized Balmoral’s large commercial farming operations.
The royals do seem to be making more Earth-friendly changes lately though. Plastics are being cut down in palace operations, and more seasonal menus will reduce the royal food carbon footprint. Prince Charles has even converted his Aston Martin to run on surplus English white wine and cheese byproducts!
While the Queen was not known to lecture others about sustainability in her speeches, it is encouraging to see younger royals leading by example in this arena. Perhaps the future kings will help Britain’s monarchies become greener.
Comparison to Average British Shoppers
Despite her immense wealth and privileges, Queen Elizabeth’s grocery shopping habits were surprisingly similar to those of her subjects in many ways. She enjoyed visiting the shops in her neighborhood rather than having every item brought to her.
Her favorite foods were simple everyday items like scones, jam, Earl Grey tea, fruits, and vegetables. She did not demand extravagant delicacies other than a few elegant desserts. The Queen resisted excess, being frugal in the grocery arena despite access to any imaginable luxury.
She also remained highly active and independent into her 90’s, still driving herself locally and keeping up public duties requiring extensive travel. This allowed her to do her own errands without assistance well into old age.
While always protected for security reasons, the Queen’s ability to shop casually among the public maintained a critical sense of normalcy and freedom for her. This has been psychologically important for someone having every aspect of their life dictated by protocol and tradition for decades.
In the end, the Queen’s enjoyment of ordinary shopping trips reinforces her connection to the experiences ordinary British citizens have every day. She could easily have been isolated from day-to-day realities in a bubble of wealth, but chose not to be. So on this seemingly mundane topic, we gain insight into Her Majesty’s character and values.
How Will King Charles Shop?
As Charles settles into his new role as King, it remains to be seen if he will continue the Queen’s practice of regular local grocery shopping trips. The public has gotten occasional glimpses of Prince Charles browsing the aisles on occasion, often picking up cheese. He has also visited fruit and vegetable stands, fishmongers, and bakeries near Highgrove House and Clarence House over the years.
However, Charles does not seem to share the Queen’s enthusiasm for intermittent “commoner” grocery runs. He relies heavily on the kitchen staff to stock his residences with organic and seasonal fare. The Prince has also faced some criticism over his large personal staff footprint.
Charles has focused more on changing the royal household menus to reflect his interests in healthy, sustainable dishes. He grows many ingredients himself too.
The King may be less recognized browsing stores compared to his mother. But given the Queen’s affection for grocery outings, Charles would likely schedule some public shopping appearances out of respect for her legacy.
However, he will put greater priority on eco-conscious acquisitions than buzz-generating photo ops. While the Queen represented steadfast tradition, Charles aims to spearhead a modernizing evolution in the monarchy. His grocery habits will reflect this changing of the guard.
Conclusion
Despite her status and privilege, Queen Elizabeth maintained some ordinary shopping habits from her youth throughout her historic reign. Regular grocery store visits were not just a duty, but genuine “me time” she savored. These brief public outings provided balance from the extremely structured, scheduled existence monarchy demanded of her.
The Queen modeled consistent values like frugality and independence in the grocery arena. She also supported local businesses and formed genuine relationships with merchants over the years.
While security needs meant total privacy was impossible, the Queen did not let protection totally curtail her freedom either. She blended public role with private desires as skillfully as possible to have experiences of normalcy.
For a monarch 90+ years old, it is remarkable Her Majesty kept up any routine errands or public interaction personally. That she took such joy in ordinary grocery runs reveals the spirit and personality of Britain’s longest-reigning head of state. The Queen’s sensible shopping habits kept her connected to the people in simple but meaningful ways right up until the end.