The Royal Picnic: Fortnum Hampers and Summer Traditions

For all the state banquets and silver service, one of the royal family’s most cherished summer pleasures is far humbler: the picnic. From Balmoral hillsides to the lawns of the Highland estates, the royals are devoted picnickers, and the late Queen in particular was famous for her love of a good spread eaten outdoors, weather permitting, and often even when it did not.

There is something wonderfully democratic about it. A picnic is a picnic whether it is spread on a palace lawn or a public common, and the royal version differs from ours mainly in the quality of the hamper. With a little care and a few good British treats, a proper royal-style picnic is one of the loveliest ways to spend a summer afternoon.

Here is how to pack a royal picnic, from the hamper to the perfect patch of grass.

The royal picnic tradition

The royal love of the outdoors runs deep, and the picnic is its most relaxed expression. At Balmoral, the family’s private Highland home, picnics and barbecues are a fixture of the summer. The King is said to be a keen outdoor cook, and the late Queen adored eating alfresco among the hills she loved. It is the royal family at its most informal and happiest, gathered on a rug with a hamper and a view.

That spirit is the whole point: a picnic strips away the ceremony and leaves the simple pleasure of good food, fresh air and family. It is the countryside holiday in miniature.

The hamper: what to pack

A proper picnic begins with the hamper, and no name does it better than Fortnum & Mason. The King and Queen’s grocer practically invented the luxury hamper, and a Fortnum’s spread is the gold standard of British picnicking. Pack savoury pastries, a game pie or good sandwiches, a wedge of British cheese, and plenty of fruit.

For the sweet end, a tin of all-butter biscuits from Cartwright & Butler travels beautifully, as do the organic treats of Duchy Organic, the King’s own food brand. Assemble your own selection into a basket and you have a bespoke royal hamper, often lovelier, and better value, than anything ready-made. Our guide to royal-warrant food and drink has the full larder.

The drinks

Keep the drinks simple and well chilled. A flask of good tea is the traditional heart of a British picnic, while a bottle of elderflower cordial or a chilled English sparkling wine such as Nyetimber turns it into an occasion. A cool bag and a couple of ice packs will keep everything at its best on a warm afternoon.

Do not forget plenty of water, and a soft option for younger picnickers. (Please enjoy any alcohol responsibly; for over-18s.)

The kit: rug, basket and flask

Half the pleasure of a picnic is the ritual of it. A sturdy wicker basket, a proper waterproof-backed rug, real cups and plates rather than plastic, a good flask and a small chopping board for the cheese. These small touches turn a scratch lunch into a considered one.

Keep it practical, too: a bin bag for rubbish, a sharp knife wrapped safely, and a light throw in case the afternoon cools. The royals may travel with rather more, but the principles are exactly the same.

Where to picnic

The setting makes the picnic. Choose somewhere with a view and a bit of shelter: a Royal Park, a stretch of countryside, a garden or a hillside. Many royal estates and gardens, from the grounds of the great houses to London’s Royal Parks, welcome picnickers in summer, offering a genuinely royal-adjacent backdrop.

Wherever you spread your rug, the recipe is the same: a good hamper, a lovely spot, and no hurry to be anywhere else.

Why the picnic endures

The picnic endures because it distils everything the royals love about the countryside into a single, simple pleasure: good food, fresh air and time together, with none of the ceremony. It is summer at its most contented, and, like the best royal traditions, entirely available to the rest of us.

That is its quiet charm. Browse more of our British Living stories for the relaxed, outdoor side of royal life.

Frequently asked questions

Do the royals really enjoy picnics?

Yes. The royal family, particularly at Balmoral, are devoted picnickers and outdoor cooks; the late Queen was well known for her love of eating alfresco. Picnics and barbecues are a cherished part of their Highland summers.

What should I pack in a royal-style picnic hamper?

Pack savoury pastries or a game pie, good sandwiches, British cheese and fruit, plus sweet treats such as all-butter biscuits. A Fortnum & Mason hamper is the classic royal standard, and you can assemble your own from good British brands.

What drinks are best for a picnic?

A flask of tea is the traditional choice, alongside elderflower cordial or a chilled English sparkling wine for something special. Keep everything cold in a cool bag, and always bring plenty of water.

Where can I have a royal-style picnic?

Choose a scenic, sheltered spot: a Royal Park, a stretch of countryside, a garden or a hillside with a view. Many parks and estate grounds welcome picnickers in summer, offering a lovely royal-adjacent setting.

What kit do I need for a proper picnic?

A wicker basket, a waterproof-backed rug, real cups and plates, a good flask, a cool bag and a chopping board for cheese. Small, considered touches turn a simple picnic into a properly enjoyable one.

Details are described as of 2026. Please enjoy any alcohol responsibly.