Buckingham Palace employees have been given alcohol-awareness training as the Royal Household works to modernize its approach to staff wellbeing — amid renewed attention on a drinking culture that has long been associated with palace life.
The training was provided by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity that works to reduce alcohol-related harm and offers programs specifically designed for workplaces.
According to a new report from The Times, Royal Household employees were taught about subjects including “mindful drinking,” alcohol in the workplace and what has become known as “grey area drinking.”
That term generally refers to drinking that may be heavier or more concerning than occasional social drinking but does not necessarily involve alcohol dependence.
The sessions also reportedly addressed how employees should respond when a colleague appears to be under the influence at work and how alcohol-centered workplace events can affect employees who choose not to drink.
However, there is an important distinction in the timing.
The training was reportedly conducted several years ago as part of a wider Royal Household employee-wellbeing initiative. It was not introduced in response to the drunken Buckingham Palace staff Christmas gathering that made headlines in late 2024.
That incident nevertheless brought renewed attention to alcohol and palace employees.
On Dec. 10, 2024, police were called to a bar on Victoria Street in central London after a gathering involving roughly 50 Royal Household staff members reportedly descended into chaos.
The group had earlier attended a reception at Buckingham Palace before moving on to the nearby bar for an informal Christmas celebration.
A 24-year-old female employee was arrested on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly after glasses were reportedly smashed and an attempt was allegedly made to assault a member of the bar staff.
Police later issued her a penalty notice.
Buckingham Palace stressed at the time that the gathering at the bar was not an official palace Christmas party.
Officials nevertheless said the incident would be investigated and that a “robust disciplinary process” would follow.
The episode became particularly embarrassing because drinking has been intertwined with Royal Household social life for generations.
Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter has previously said that an old staff bar inside Buckingham Palace was eventually closed after some employees were arriving for work “worse for wear.”
Former royal butler Paul Burrell has also described a heavy-drinking culture among some palace employees during his years working inside the Royal Household, although his accounts reflect his own recollections of an earlier era.
Alcohol has also featured prominently at royal banquets, receptions and private gatherings throughout the monarchy’s history.
Queen Elizabeth II was famously associated with drinks including gin and Dubonnet, although some widely repeated stories about exactly how much she drank have been disputed or exaggerated over the years.
The Queen Mother also developed a reputation for enjoying cocktails and wine, while several earlier British monarchs were known for considerably heavier drinking.
But the modern Royal Household appears increasingly focused on treating alcohol as a workplace-wellbeing issue rather than simply part of palace tradition.
Alcohol Change UK describes mindful drinking as consciously thinking about when, why and how much alcohol a person consumes rather than drinking automatically or because of social pressure.
The organization also advises employers to consider whether workplace social events place too much emphasis on alcohol and whether non-drinkers feel included.
That fits into a much larger wellbeing program inside the Royal Household.
Official Royal Household materials say employees have access to confidential support services and an employee assistance program, while staff members have also been trained as Mental Health First Aiders.
The Royal Household says its goal is to create a healthier and more supportive working environment for the large workforce responsible for everything from hospitality and housekeeping to administration, maintenance and ceremonial duties.
The newly revealed alcohol training therefore appears to be part of that broader modernization effort rather than evidence that palace officials suddenly imposed restrictions following a single drunken night out.
Still, the disclosure is attracting attention for an obvious reason.
Few workplaces have centuries of drinking traditions quite like Buckingham Palace — and after the highly publicized 2024 Christmas-party arrest, efforts to teach palace employees about responsible drinking are likely to receive far more scrutiny than the average corporate wellness seminar.
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