Prince William has shared intimate recollections of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, detailing how she instilled in him a fondness for afternoon tea and revealing an unseen, relaxed side of the late monarch. These personal reflections were recorded for a digital memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II.
William recounted spending "many a quiet afternoon" with the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle. He described these moments as times when his grandmother appeared "completely at ease," surrounded by her family, dogs, and horses. "Watching her ride her horses in the Great Park, even well into her later years, showed a side of Granny the world didn't often see – off duty, relaxed and utterly at home," he said.
These cherished memories, captured in a video recorded at Windsor Castle, contribute to the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial. The late monarch reportedly maintained a daily ritual of afternoon tea around 5 p.m., which typically included two types of sandwiches, scones, small cakes, and Earl Grey tea.
The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial was launched on what would have been her 100th birthday in April. In parallel, the Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements throughout the Queen's reign, has been digitized, offering a searchable archive of her public appearances and duties spanning seven decades. Volunteer students from various colleges assisted in this digitization project, utilizing data provided by The Times. Members of the public are also invited to share their personal memories of Queen Elizabeth II on queenelizabeth.com.