The Queen Finally Settles Britain's Great Scone Debate

For generations the people of Great Britain have been divided by a contentious issue: Which goes on a scone first, the jam or the cream? People have been eating scones with jam and cream since the eleventh century, and they've probably been arguing about the topping order that whole time. Now a former royal chef reveals that at Buckingham Palace, the jam always goes first.

According to The Independent, the jam debate is especially fierce between Devon and Cornwall. People in Devon spread the cream on first, then add the jam. In Cornish cream tea, the jam goes first. The National Trust even had to issue a public apology earlier this month, after a Mother's Day ad in Cornwall showed scones with the cream added first, Devon-style. Some people in Cornwall were very upset about that, but it will probably make them feel better to hear that Queen Elizabeth II herself takes her scones in the Cornish style, with the jam on first.

Former royal chef Darren McGrady broke the news on Twitter, saying:

The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first ( @tiptree little scarlet when we ran out) with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the Royal tea tent and all Royal tea parties. https://t.co/fTAyuwGxcs

— The Royal Chef (@DarrenMcGrady) March 15, 2018

The substitute for homemade jam, specifically, was Little Scarlet Strawberry Conserve from Tiptree. Whatever the source of the jam the Queen enjoyed her scones with Earl Grey tea, which is one of her 10 favorite things to drink.