A member of the Royal Family apparently let slip about a secret passage at Buckingham Palace during a party, according to a journalist. In 2021, The Daily Mail's royal editor Richard Eden claimed that Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, told him about a tunnel from St James's Palace to Dukes Bar at a party sponsored by his drinks brand Casamigos. Brooksbank said: 'There is one to Dukes Bar from St James's Palace. I haven't used it yet, but I'd love to check it out.'
Dukes Bar: A Historic Cocktail Haven
Dukes Bar, located in Dukes Hotel and operating since 1908, is renowned for its martinis served by Alessandro Palazzi and his team. The venue describes itself as a 'haven of classic cocktail artistry'. A customer wrote on TripAdvisor in May: 'That bar is cosy and oozes character. Given its backstory, it's no surprise that they have lacked too many tables in a small space. Service was great, and our martinis were perfectly prepared with the requisite amount of theatre.'
Royal Martini Traditions
The late Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Margaret Rhodes, said that Her Majesty enjoyed a martini every evening. The Queen Mother is known to have preferred a gin and Dubonnet. These royal cocktail preferences align with the existence of secret passages leading to bars.
Buckingham Palace's Hidden Walkways
Buckingham Palace also features a reclusive walkway, and it was revealed this week that King Charles will not live there despite the £370 million refurbishment funded by taxpayers. A palace spokesperson said: 'His Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life. It will be a buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way.' The decision is partly to increase public access to the landmark, as security concerns would limit visitor numbers and areas if the monarch were in residence.
Secret Door in the White Drawing Room
During a 2015 tour of the White Drawing Room, Good Morning Britain's Kate Garroway showed viewers a large mirror that hid a secret door. She said: 'If you pull this open you can see that actually behind this there is a secret passage leading to the Queen's private apartments.' Dr Anna Reynolds, curator of the Royal Collection, added: 'This is the way to the Queen's apartments. Often when the Queen is meeting guests, they're lined up for her here in the Music Room for her to meet. It allows her to make an entrance without having to walk through all of the different palace rooms.'
