Former butler reveals the one royal rule we all missed
A former royal butler has revealed a surprising rule everyone follows in the palace.
In the BBC series Miss Holland, butler Grant Harrold explained the royal method that involves following four easy steps that are non-negotiable in the palace and amongst royal circles.
Mr Harrold was a member of the household of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and currently lives on Highgrove Estate – so it’s safe to say he knows what he is talking about.
Mr Harrold shared the royal rules enforced by the palace for drinking tea:
1. Pour the tea from the teapot
2. Add milk to the cup after the tea, never do so beforehand
3. Stir your tea back and forth, never in a circular motion. Don’t allow the spoon to touch the sides of the cup when stirring.
4. Sip delicately from the cup, don’t slurp.
Drinking tea has historically been seen as a status symbol among the upper class, using it as an opportunity to showcase their best china.
Meghan Markle has also adapted to the royal rules of tea etiquette, meeting the Queen for the first time at tea.
Mr Harrold explained the reason why stirring tea in a circular motion is improper.
He told Business Insider, “If we stir in a circular motion we can create a storm in a tea cup and see the tea coming over the sides which we should never allow.
"If the spoon touches the sides it makes a clinging sound and we don't want that at the afternoon tea table."
Do you drink your tea this way?