Her Majesty The Queen’s Visit to Vintners’ Hall
On the evening of Wednesday, 18 February 2026, we were honoured and delighted to welcome Her Majesty The Queen, a Liveryman of the Vintners’ Company, back to Vintners’ Hall in the City of London.
Her Majesty was received by the Master Vintner, Richard Wilson MBE DL VR, his consort, Claire Wilson, and Sir Andrew Parmley, Past Master of the Vintners’ Company and former Lord Mayor of the City of London.
During the visit, The Queen was introduced to, and engaged with, a diverse cross-section of Vintners’ Company members and staff, including a group of our Swan Uppers, who participate in the annual census of the swan population along the River Thames.
In an impromptu address, Her Majesty recalled her upbringing, which instilled a fondness for wine. “Probably everybody knows my love of wine; it is in my blood, and I was raised by a father whose passion was, without a doubt, wine. We consumed wine as children; we grew up in the manner of the French.”
Acknowledging Vintners’ Hall as the ‘Spiritual Home of the Wine Industry,’ The Queen continued, “I wished to express my gratitude to all assembled here for contributing so significantly to one of the finest industries in existence.”
The Master presented Her Majesty with a special bottle of Vintners’ Company Pauillac, 2016, as well as a first edition copy (1928) of A Book Of Wine, authored by her paternal grandfather, Philip Morton Shand, known professionally as P Morton Shand.
The Queen’s departure was marked by the traditional and rousing ‘with five cheers’ from all those present. This tradition commemorates the Five Kings—England, Scotland, France, Denmark, and Cyprus—who were hosted at Vintners’ Hall in 1363 by Master Vintner and Lord Mayor (1356) Alderman Sir Henry Picard.
