The Queen is growing her own fruit and veg at the Palace

Who would have thought it? Vegetables are being grown at Buckingham Palace for the first time since World War Two. The Queen has installed a vegetable and fruit patch already successfully yielding a bounty of Cambridge Favourite strawberries, which were served to her and Prince Philip on his 88th birthday.

Her allotment is relatively small in comparison to the majestically manicured garden, but the 4 x 10 plot will still produce a great healthy summer harvest. The fruit and veg planted include rare varieties of tomatoes, beans, lettuce, leeks and carrots as well as a selection of other fresh nutritious food essential to our five-a-day healthy living diet. Instead of chemicals, the gardeners will use liquid sea–weed to feed the plants and garlic will be used to deter aphids.

Being self–sufficient by growing your own food has become a huge phenomenon in the last few years and some cities even have a waiting list of over 400 applicants for allotments. Not only is the craze eco–friendly, it’s also extremely economical and therapeutic.

Money can’t be a huge worry for the Royal family but the Palace is renowned for its astronomical expenses on maintenance and staff. Perhaps if she turned the whole 39–acres into a vegetable plot, she may produce enough to supply a healthy lunch for all her employees. Just an idea, your Majesty.

With plenty of employees, it’s doubtful that the Queen would have muddied her own royal fingernails or perspired on her royal brow toiling over a hot stove with her home-grown produce. However, you can still pay tribute to the effort at Buckingham Palace by keeping regally clean when you cook your own garden grub with this bang on trend Union Jack cotton kitchen apron (£11.99) from Amazon.