Related Articles
Revealed: Why the Queen gave up her nightly dry martini… but still enjoys fine wine with dinner, according to royal sommelier
- The royal sommelier has said the Queen has cut down because of her joints
- The Queen was said to have stopped having a nightly martini in recent months
- It follows wide concerns over the monarch’s health after a recent hospital trip
Given Prince Andrew’s troubles, and the regular sniping from Prince Harry and Meghan, the Queen could be forgiven for needing a drink.
So I’m fascinated to learn that Her Majesty still enjoys a tipple.
Reports last month suggested the monarch had given up her daily martini, but mystery surrounded her reasons for cutting down on alcohol.
Now royal sommelier Demetri Walters has revealed: ‘It’s bad for her joints, and she can’t drink too much when she’s doing all these royal engagements — it’s not a job you can drink in.’
Royal sommelier Demetri Walters has revealed that the Queen has cut down because alcohol hurts her joints when she is undertaking royal duties
The Queen had been known to enjoy a nighttime martini to unwind after a hard day exacting her duties
However, Walters says the Queen, 95, has not given up alcohol completely. She continues to enjoy a glass of wine with her meal — and he has a very tough job, because she’s much more selective about the vintage.
‘I choose for the Queen, but she’s quite exacting, as she doesn’t drink much wine at the moment,’ he tells me at a dinner at The Dorchester in Mayfair.
Walters worked for royal wine supplier Berry Bros, and is now an independent adviser to customers including royalty.
When he’s not advising the Royal Family on wine pairings, he works with Michelin-starred chefs on their menus, including Michel Roux Jr.
One of the stranger developments in his career was becoming a ‘beer sommelier’ for Prince Philip, who had his own views on medical matters relating to alcohol.
The Queen has not given up alcohol completely and still enjoys a glass of wine after dinner
‘He had this idea he couldn’t drink wine because it would make him too unwell in his old age, so, very unusually, I had to act as a beer sommelier for him,’ Walters explains.
‘I didn’t dare tell him beer is even worse for you.’
The Queen was said to enjoy a few drinks to get her through the day, including a gin and Dubonnet before lunch, a glass of sweet German wine with her evening meal, and a dry martini before bed.
She enjoys Dubonnet so much that last month she awarded the tipple a Royal Warrant.
The Queen’s favourite drink is said to be one part gin to two parts Dubonnet. Chin-chin!
Source link
