Queen Elizabeth Awarded A Royal Warrant To A Brand That May Go Against Her Doctor's Orders
Queen Elizabeth was forced to cancel several public appointments after being advised to rest up following a minor health scare. As the BBC reported, the Queen pulled out of her planned appearance at the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, but subsequently resumed her work by meeting with ambassadors via video link from her home in Windsor Castle. Her Majesty regretted having to bow out of COP26, but committed to delivering her address in a recorded video message instead. The rest of the royal family, including Prince Charles and Prince William, attended the conference regardless. Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S., Sir Peter Westmacott, acknowledged it was a major "blow," since the Queen's attendance would have been the "icing on the cake."
The beloved matriarch held virtual meetings with the South Korean and Swiss ambassadors, as well as Chancellor Rishi Sunak. She'd previously hosted an investment summit at Windsor Castle on October 19, but the following day, a statement was released by Buckingham Palace confirming the Queen had "reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days." Her Majesty spent the night in hospital, but all appeared to be well as the video meetings took place just a couple days later. She was said to be "in good spirits" accordingly. The Queen was also spotted using a walking stick at recent public events. However, despite the fact she's taking her health more seriously going forward, the monarch's new brand association might rile up her doctors.
The Queen hasn't given up alcohol just yet
The Daily Mail reports the Queen has made her long-time love affair with the aperitif Dubonnet official with a special Royal Warrant, which allows for their bottles to carry a label noting they're "By appointment to HM the Queen," alongside an official royal crest, starting in 2022. Her Majesty has given up her daily tipple on doctor's orders, but this new move suggests she won't be saying goodbye to alcohol for good any time soon. Simon de Beauregard, a director of parent company Pernod Ricard, gushed, "We are delighted Her Majesty enjoys our beautiful brand and humbled to have received a Royal Warrant." The Queen's favorite drink, more specifically, comprises one part gin and two parts Dubonnet. She takes it with two ice cubes and a slice of lemon.
The Queen Mother also favored a gin-and-Dubonnet, to the extent she once instructed an aide to pack "two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin" for an upcoming trip, just in case. Dubonnet enjoyed its heyday back in the '60s and '70s, during which time 20 million bottles were sold worldwide annually. Naturally, the advertising slogan "Do 'ave a Dubonnet" pales in comparison to getting Her Royal Highness's official seal of approval. In fact, being known as the Queen's drink of choice has already increased sales of Dubonnet, with 500,000 bottles sold last year compared to 350,000 during the preceding 12 months. Funnily enough, the liquor was originally created as a tonic, to combat malaria.