Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Real reason King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William & Co have six glasses at state banquets

Do these royals really have six beverages on the go?

state banquet drinks
Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
Share this:

Hosting guests at Buckingham Palace is no ordinary affair. On Tuesday, King Charles III hosted his first state banquet in South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's honour - and royal staff would have been preparing for the occasion for months prior.

LOOK: King Charles amazes fans with unprecedented glimpse inside Buckingham Palace kitchens - watch

From the lavish decor adorned with seasonal flowers to the meticulously placed tableware from King George IV's 4,000-piece Grand Service (which takes a team of eight three weeks to unpack and repack), state banquets truly are a magnificent display of regality. But did you know each guest is presented with six different glasses? We wouldn't know where to start…

WATCH: King Charles' royal staff set the table for a royal banquet at Buckingham Palace

There's no such thing as thirst at a state banquet. It is customary that each guest's table setting includes room for six crystal glasses.

One for water, another for red wine, white wine, Champagne or sweet wine and port, as well as a glass for Champagne reserved for toasting.

SEE: King Charles' 4 bizarre requests at state banquets revealed - royal chef exclusive

banquet french menu© Photo: Getty Images

Royal guests are presented with six glasses to drink from

The late Queen Elizabeth's wine cellar, now the property of her eldest son Charles, is situated beneath the state rooms in one of the oldest parts of the palace.

It holds a staggering 25,000 bottles, some of which are on display. In case you missed it, the royal family's official Instagram account shared an incredibly rare behind-the-scenes video ahead of King Charles' hosting debut on Tuesday, giving a look at the exquisite table settings and glassware.

MORE: King Charles' daily diet: Seeds, boiled eggs, and the meal he never eats

RELATED: The strict process behind creating a menu for King Charles - royal exclusive

"As the final touches are made, The King and The Queen Consort inspect the table ahead of the State Banquet," the post was captioned.

Looking after the royal family's guests is no easy task for palace staff. According to silver service etiquette, water and wine glasses should remain on the table throughout the entire meal, as guests will have their own preferences for the beverages they drink.

state banquet© Photo: Getty Images

The table settings for state banquets can take several weeks to prepare

The waiting staff are also required to change the wine glass when a guest asks for a new type of wine. Phew! That's a lot to remember.

Like this story? Sign up to The Royal Life newsletter to get your weekly dose of royal lifestyle inspiration, from the must-see fashion moments to sneak peeks into royal homes and wellness news.

More Food

See more