On July 23, 1962, the Queen and Prince Philip visited the du Maurier estate in Cornwall during their tour of the Duchy of Cornwall farms, marking a rare royal engagement that prompted considerable preparation and some tension among the household staff. The visit, arranged by Michael Adeane, the Queen’s private secretary, was met with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, particularly from Daphne du Maurier, the celebrated author who owned the estate.

In the weeks leading up to the royal afternoon tea, preparations at the estate escalated significantly. Daphne du Maurier expressed concerns about the state of the household, including worries over her dog’s reaction to strangers and the suitability of the upstairs landing, which was decorated with prints of the Grand Old Duke of York in compromising historical situations. She debated protocol on whether to escort the Queen away from these images during the visit.

Tensions also arose within the household itself. Daphne’s husband, Tom “Tommy” du Maurier, expressed dissatisfaction with what he viewed as the shabbiness of the setting and pushed for a formal sit-down tea in the dining room similar to royal customs at Balmoral. Ultimately, a compromise was reached with tea served on three smaller tables in the long room known as Mena’s room, where guests could serve themselves. To accommodate the occasion, Tommy arranged for the steward from the Royal Fowey Yacht Club to attend the Queen, also assigning his boatman George as an additional butler, a role for which George was reportedly unprepared.

The preparations were extensive, including a major cleaning and polishing effort, sourcing unchipped china and teaspoons, and acquiring special linens and cakes from London, notably from Fortnum & Mason. Daphne personally arranged 27 vases of flowers for the visit and selected a formal outfit for the occasion, noting the special effort it required despite the summer heat.

During the visit itself, the Queen said little and maintained a reserved demeanor, even making a subtle note of cracks in the ceiling of the guest room, which Daphne had used to escort the Queen and Lady Leicester, her lady-in-waiting, to avoid the problematic prints downstairs. The tea service was described as polite but somewhat formal, with Tommy seated beside the Queen and Daphne next to Prince Philip, who appeared restless throughout.

Reflecting on the visit, Daphne acknowledged Tommy’s satisfaction, viewing the event as recognition of his years of devoted service at the estate. She compared her relief at the successful conclusion of the visit to the feeling after a painless dental procedure, highlighting the underlying stress and pressure that accompanied hosting members of the royal family.