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Prue Leith's Royal Fumbles: Tea Fails & Fiery Waiters
25 May
Summary
- Leith fumbled serving tea to Queen Elizabeth in 1986.
- A waiter caught fire at her restaurant while serving Princess Margaret.
- Leith accidentally got flour on the princess's uniform.
Renowned chef and restaurateur Prue Leith has shared anecdotes from her memoir, 'Being Old and Learning to Love It!', detailing three particularly embarrassing moments involving the royal family.
Leith, 86, recalled an event in 1986 when Queen Elizabeth II visited the QEII Centre in Westminster. Tasked with serving the Queen tea, Leith, unfamiliar with the Queen's preference, presented a "weak lemony tea served by a half-wit," a moment she deeply regretted for failing to provide a decent beverage.
Arguably the worst experience, as described in her book, occurred in the late 1960s when Princess Margaret visited Leith's restaurant. The occasion was marred by a "snobbish head waiter" who refused to serve the desired venison casserole, insisting on roast pheasant instead. The situation escalated when the waiter caught fire while refilling a lamp.
