Queen Elizabeth's £60,000 Cup Of Tea

7 months ago 17th Mar 14:00

A footman to Britain's Queen Elizabeth has caused £60, 000 of damage to a new carpet.

The unnamed employee was pushing a trolley loaded with tea and coffee through Buckingham Palace to a staff meeting when one of the wheels fell off, spilling liquid all over the carpet, which had been laid in the 156ft-long Picture Gallery just two days before.

A Buckingham Palace official said: It left a large stain at one end

A source said: "The trolley tipped over and everything fell off - tea, coffee and china. They spent a week in the gallery trying to remove the stain.

"But instead of making it better it seems they opened up the fibres of the carpet and made it even worse. It was ruined.

"He was not a full-time staff member and just comes in part-time but people don't think he'll be coming back any more."

The section of carpet has now been replaced - but officials have no idea what to do in the event of further accidents.

The source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "It took three days to lay the carpet and it had only been down for two days when the accident happened. No one could believe it.

"They had a spare section of carpet which officials thought would cover unforeseen accidents in the future - not in the same week it was laid. They've had to use it all up at one go."

A Buckingham Palace official said: "It left a large stain at one end. Professional cleaners were called in after staff efforts failed but to no avail."