What Does The Queen Of England Eat For Breakfast?

What exactly does the Queen of England, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, eat for breakfast? Take a couple guesses: clotted cream on fresh-baked scones, perhaps? Or maybe a couple perfectly shirred eggs with toast soldiers? Actually, it's not quite such a lavish affair.

According to Darren McGrady, a former royal chef who spoke with The Telegraph, the Queen usually partakes of four modest meals per day, and for breakfast she'll generally eat a bowl of Corn Flakes or Special K, usually topped with a spoonful of prunes, apricots, or macadamia nuts. When she's at Balmoral Castle (the royal estate in Scotland), some wild strawberries will also join the party.  If she's not in the mood for cereal, a boiled egg or toast with marmalade will do; it's all washed down with Darjeeling tea. She generally eats breakfast alone, because Prince Philip prefers to eat at 8:30 a.m., a half hour before the Queen does.

McGrady added, surprisingly, that the Queen hates to waste food and is "very thrifty."

And if you've ever wondered what the Queen's favorite cocktail is, she prefers a gin and Dubonnet: one part gin and two parts Dubonnet (a sweet, wine-based aperitif), with ice and a lemon slice. She reportedly enjoys one before lunch every day.