A nice cup of tea

The Queen, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge took a trip to the shops today. 

The trio arrived at the lavish and ornate Fortnum and Mason store for a tour around the 300 year old shop on Piccadilly and to view the Diamond Jubilee United Services Tins which are being sent to members of the armed forces to commemorate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. The tins contain a specially mixed tea and a supply of biscuits which are suitable for ‘dunking’ without falling apart! (Dunking will be explained another time if it is something you have never heard about!)

It was a very relaxed royal visit to the food hall, which is still the most impressive place in London to buy groceries and often known as ‘the Queen’s grocer’. Before leaving, the Queen unveiled a plaque to rename the restaurant ‘The Diamond Jubilee Tea Station’

Photo:  Getty Images

The store was founded in 1705. Hugh Mason had a small shop in St.James’s market and a spare room.  William Fortnum worked as a footman for Queen Anne and rented the spare room in Mr. Mason’s house.

The Royal Family insisted that they had new candles every night and William saw a business opportunity to sell the melted down wax from the half used candles, which then developed into a joint partnership for the two men.  With the help of their Palace connection, it wasn't long before they had a thriving shop on their hands. 

The shop in Piccadilly became well known for speciality items for the rich and powerful affluent Londoners who wanted to display their wealth in the way they entertained.  Fortnum and Mason educated them with delicacies from around the world. Connections with East India tea company lead to the importing of exclusive blends, which the Company are still renowned for today.

During the Napoleonic Wars packaged supplies of home comforts for officers was a booming business, which then developed into their globally recommended  Fortnum and Mason hampers full of elegant provisions, still a welcome an indulgence today. This is the only store with a department dedicated to ‘Expeditions’, the Fortnum and Mason hampers have accompanied Everest and Tutankhamum expeditions

In 1964 a huge ornate clock was commissioned to hang outside the store on Piccadilly. Every hour, four foot high mechanical replicas of Mr. Fortnum and Mr. Mason emerge and bow to each other whilst 18^thcentury music plays!

The store thrives by constantly adapting and innovating to meet changing times, but always keeps the great British traditional values of quality service at it’s heart.  The recent addition of bee hives on the sixth floor has proved to be highly successful with two crops per year from the nectar gathered in the parks and gardens of London.  If you are not able to visit the hives, a webcam has been installed to watch the activity and enjoy the views across London.

http://www.fortnumandmason.com/