Prince William has intervened in Britain’s great scone debate, revealing how the late Queen Elizabeth preferred to take her cream tea.
The royal has said that his grandmother would take her scones the “Devonian way” by putting cream on her scone first, before adding jam.
However, his comments contradict earlier ones made by former royal chef Darren McGrady, who said the Queen preferred the Cornish tradition, by starting with jam.
Speaking to Heart FM’s breakfast show, the Duke of Cornwall said: “I love that I’m the authority on the scones. I can only tell you what I learned from my grandmother, and she would definitely, she would have the cream on first.
“It tastes delicious either way,” he added.
Queen Elizabeth receives scones in Australia in 2011 (Getty)
The long standing tradition of cream tea dates back to the 11th century. According to the Cream Tea Society, it became popular in 1662, when Portuguese Catherine de Braganza married Charles II, and brought the custom of drinking tea at court with her.
In 2018, Mr McGrady, who worked for the royal family from 1982 to 1993, wrote on X: “Jam first at Buckingham Palace garden parties!
“The Queen always had homemade Balmoral jam first,” he added in a subsequent tweet, “with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”
During the interview with Heart Radio, Prince William also spoke about his wife, Princess Kate, who returned from her royal tour in Italy last week.
The Prince of Wales said she was “edging herself back” into overseas engagements following her cancer treatment.
He said royal tours could be demanding and it was important to “make sure she’s OK and rested.
“She’s an amazing mum and an amazing wife and literally our family couldn’t cope without her, so she’s been absolutely stunning, really has.”