Meghan Markle reveals scones preference hours after Prince William gives his verdict

It’s one of the most divisive issues of our time, do you put cream on your scones first, or is it jam? Prince William revealed on Friday that he opts for cream first, saying he was taught by his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

During an interview on Heart FM, the Prince of Wales was grilled over whether he made his scones in the Cornish or Devonian way, he said: “I love that I’m the authority on scones. I can only tell you what I learned from my grandmother, and she would definitely, she would have the cream on first.“

And the debate was further reignited on Saturday when Meghan Markle’s As Ever brand shared a recipe for scones. Even though the Duchess of Sussex is distant from the royals, it appears that they can agree on something, as Meghan also preferred to put her cream on first.

A video showed a large dollop of cream sitting on a sliced scone as Meghan adding her signature jam on top. The caption read: “Memorial weekend plans. Baking warm scones topped with our Strawberry or Raspberry Spread, Orange Blossom Honey, and Flower Sprinkles.”

The post also revealed a recipe for the baked delicacy, which read: “Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together, then add the cold butter cubes and rub into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

“Whisk the egg and sugar together until light and foamy, then incorporate into the dough along with the heavy cream. Mix until a smooth dough forms. Lightly flour your work surface and knead for 5 minutes, then roll out to about 4cm thick.”

The final steps were: “Cut out the scones using a cookie cutter or glass, brush the tops with heavy cream, and bake for 14 minutes at 170°C. Serve with raw cream, our Strawberry Spread, our Orange Blossom Honey, and flower sprinkles.”

Royal scones

William’s comments come after former royal chef Darren McGrady, who worked for the late Queen at Buckingham Palace for 11 years, revealed that he witnessed the opposite behind closed doors.

Darren wrote on social media back in 2018: “Jam first or clotted cream first? Jam first at Buckingham Palace garden parties!”

© Getty Images

The same year, King Charles hinted that he also followed the jam first rule during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Show. Noticing a young boy eating a scone the Devonian way, he asked: “Have you got that the right way round?”

Scones are a favourite royal treat with the baked goods often being a staple of an afternoon tea. They were among the desserts served at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding back in 2005, alongside glazed fudge and strawberry tartlets. The royal couple and their guests also indulged in smoked salmon, potted shrimp or roast venison sandwiches.