The past 18 months have been tough and we all deserve a treat. It's hard to think of anything more cheering, as the autumn chill sets in, than a cosy nook, a white-clothed table and a lavish afternoon ...

We can thank the 7th Duchess of Bedford for the tradition of taking afternoon tea. She was reputed to have complained of “having a sinking feeling” mid-afternoon and revived herself with a pot of tea ...

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. For the lemon drizzle, combine four tablespoons of sugar with two tablespoons of lemon juice.

When it comes to the cakes and treats that the monarch would typically choose to go alongside her tea, royal chefs have confirmed that she enjoys everything from scones to chocolate biscuit cake ...

The afternoon tea was invented by one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, in 1840. Yet despite nearly 200 years of tradition, many in Britain ...

You can find everything from vintage tea rooms to popular haunts, serving up coffee, tea, cake and sandwiches. You'll generally need to book for afternoon tea rather than just turn up on the day.

Paired with their entire afternoon tea, a whole cake would be far too much even though it may look small. Split the cake up into sixths and give your pet a small bit at a time to see how they get on.

Since the 1840s, when the Duchess of Bedfordshire found herself hungry around 4pm, afternoon tea has been considered an aristocratic meal, with tiny sandwiches and delicate little cakes.

The Queen famously enjoys tucking into afternoon tea every day and one of her favourite sandwiches of choice has reportedly been on her menu since she was very small Queen: Royal chef reveals ...