Health! Members of the British royal family are known to enjoy a drink or two. The leader of the monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II, is particularly fond of gin. It even has its own brand of wine thanks to seven acres of grapes planted at Windsor Palace in 2011. Read on to learn more about royalty drinking preferences and see photos of them drinking alcoholic beverages.
The Royals drink beer at work …
Alcoholic and work beverages are not usually mixed. But for working royalty members, aka those whose job it is to make official engagements on behalf of the queen, the drink comes with the territory. On more than a few occasions, members of royalty have had a glass of beer during a visit or while attending an event.
During a 2008 visit to Southwold, England, Prince Charles and Camila, the Duchess of Cornwall tasted carbon neutral beer in front of The Swan Hotel.
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They probably only took a few sips because they’re working after all. Camilla’s favorite drink is supposedly wine or gin and tonic. As for Charles, he is said to relax with Laphroaig whiskey, preferably a batch that has aged 15 years.
Kings and beer appear more frequently than one might think. While attending the St Patrick’s Day parade in 2017, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge drank a tall Guinness glass.
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Again, he probably didn’t finish his beer because he had been there representing the queen and the rest of the royal family. Some real sources say that Catherine drinks beer in public to appear more identifiable, while actually preferring other drinks such as vodka or whiskey.
During an official visit to Belfast, Ireland, in February 2019, Catherine and her husband, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, were able to sample their pints of beer. As they passed the Empire Music Hall, Catherine cheered for William as he filled a glass.
William is reported to be the older beer drinker of the two, but they’re not big fans of the drink and some say that’s why they didn’t serve beer at their 2011 royal wedding.
… and came too
The Royals drink beer and came. And believe it or not, wine sometimes becomes part of their duties as members of working royalty. In 2014, during a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand, Catherine and William toured a vineyard. No trip to a vineyard is complete without a taste test.
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On her first royal tour as parents, the Duchess of Cambridge shared that she had been happy to be able to drink again.
Although her favorite alcoholic drink contains gin, the queen also enjoys a glass of wine. During an official tour of Australia in 2002, she tasted the wine during a visit to the Chateau Barrosa.
Everyone smiles at a farm fair in 2007, Camilla and Charles drank wine.
They give a lot of toast
Members of working royalty attend all kinds of functions, from casual events to more formal matters. When the occasion requires, they give speeches or participate in toasts, which usually means champagne.
Raising a glass during a visit to Ireland in 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex toasted their host.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is a well-documented wine fanatic, preferably Tignanello. In fact, the Italian red wine blend inspired the now-defunct blog name, The tig.
