According to Wikipedia “Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3pm and 5pm.” It originated in England, though various places that once used to be considered as part of the former British Empire or Commonwealth such as India and Canada, also have such a tradition as part of their heritage.

But due to changes, in social customs most Britons now only partake of afternoon tea, if at all now, on only very special or formal occasions.

By tradition, loose tea not tea bags were used , poured from a teapot into individual cups each possessing its own matching saucer, milk and or sugar was offered. This would often be accompanied by various kinds of small sandwiches, customarily cucumber, egg and cress, or smoked salmon. Scones with butter, clotted cream and jam and generally, other small cakes and pastries, which often contained fresh cream, were also a favorite. The sandwiches and cakes would most likely of been served from separate silver or fine bone china ,tiered stands.

Imagine the pinnacle of all afternoon teas , you are invited to take afternoon tea with the Queen of England, how refined a situation is this, the peak of civility and decorum, the tea would be served in delicate almost translucent china cups, poured from silver tea pots. “How do you take your tea, Madam, with milk and sugar? Or would you just prefer it plain?” the butler would ask, as he offered you your choice of thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches, the bread sliced so exquisitely thin, but just thick enough so the moisture from the cucumber didn’t seep through, an art form, all unto itself, cut with mathematical precision into tiny wafer thin triangles, or “would you prefer Madam” the thinnest sliver of Victoria sponge imaginable ,fresh whipped cream, served of course, on the side.

OK, so we have set the scene, this is the most formal, of all formal occasions ,you are on your utmost best behavior ever, this isn’t some coffee shop gossip swap, you’re not chugging down a cool one ,after work with an office pal. This is a refined and most dignified event; there are very few, if not any records of brawls ever having broken out at an afternoon tea, and most definitely not while in the presence of the Queen of England and her beloved corgi’s.

All right so what’s next? ; You have been invited to the palace ,you are allowed to bring with you only one guest. Who will you bring? It can be anyone, living or dead, past or present, famous or notorious, who would be your choice of guest and why? What information would you hope to discover from him or her, would they be able to maintain a composed and decorous attitude,while in the company of her Royal Highness ,or is your guest ,more suited to the tea party seen below, if so, how far would you go to cover for them and why.