In a sensational new book titled The Royal Insider, Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, paints a vivid picture of life behind Buckingham Palace’s grand doors, and it’s not as polished as it seems. Burrell claims the palace was once known among staff as the “gin palace,” where alcohol flowed freely, and even household items like kettles were used to sneak in drinks.
Burrell, who served the royal household for 11 years before working for Princess Diana at Kensington Palace, says in his book that gallons of gin were consumed every week, both officially and in secret. “I quickly became familiar with the ingenious ways in which the household smuggled booze for their soirées,” he wrote. “I was often ordered to empty tonic water bottles and fill them with gin for staff parties.”
He even described how footmen would carry electric kettles not for making tea, but for hiding gin, allowing staff to enjoy secret drinks without being caught. The revelations have shocked royal followers and added a fresh layer of intrigue to the famously private world of the British monarchy.
Burrell’s revelations align with what royal biographers have long suggested, that many members of the royal family enjoy a good drink. According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, the Queen Mother was known to enjoy a drink at nearly every meal: a gin and Dubonnet at noon, red wine at lunch, a martini in the evening, and pink champagne after dinner.
Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, was said to share similar tastes, favoring a gin and Dubonnet cocktail before lunch and sometimes indulging in Bollinger champagne in the evening. Princess Margaret preferred Famous Grouse whiskey, while King Charles III has a softer spot for a good malt whiskey or a gin martini, despite being known for his otherwise health-conscious lifestyle.
Author Valentine Low revealed that Charles once shared a glass of Laphroaig whiskey during a late-night chat with a government minister aboard the royal train, proving even the disciplined monarch enjoys a well-crafted nightcap.
Among the younger royals, Prince William is known for making Kate Middleton a gin and tonic after their children go to bed, though he himself has a reputation for being a light drinker. His cousin’s husband, Mike Tindall, even nicknamed him “One Pint Willy” because of his low alcohol tolerance.
Kate, on the other hand, reportedly enjoys sweeter cocktails, often mixing vodka, passion fruit, raspberry liqueur, and champagne, a drink that was served at her royal wedding.
Prince Harry, who once had a wilder reputation in his youth, has reportedly swapped late-night vodka shots for green juices and wellness routines since marrying Meghan Markle, who famously named her blog The Tig after her favorite Italian wine, Tignanello.
Unlike many of her royal counterparts, Princess Diana preferred simplicity. Known for her charm and grace, she was not much of a drinker, often opting for a glass of Chablis white wine or a peach Bellini at social events.
Through The Royal Insider, Paul Burrell offers an intimate, if controversial, look into palace life. His stories reveal a lighter, more human side of royal living, one where even the most powerful figures in the world unwind with their favourite drink.