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It all started when the Queen agreed to work alongside fellow 91-year-old Sir David Attenborough on a conservation documentary dealing with wildlife in the Commonwealth.

She became personally interested in the damage to oceans caused by dumped plastic.

One thing led to another, and the Queen has now declared war on plastic, banning straws and bottles from the Royal estates.

Buckingham Palace has outlined new waste plans, which will include gradually phasing out plastic straws and bottles in public cafes and banning them altogether in staff dining rooms.

Internal caterers at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh will now only be allowed to use china plates and glasses, or recyclable paper cups.

Takeaway food items in the Royal Collection cafes must also now be made of compostable or biodegradable packaging.

As well as the Queen’s interest, The Prince of Wales also regularly speaks about the damage to the oceans caused by dumped plastic and recently warned that the world was facing an "escalating ecological and human disaster" from refuse in the seas.

Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a 10-year refurbishment program which will make the royal residence far more green, The Telegraph reported.

Food & Drink Business

Bega Group reported a 45 per cent surge in profit to $52 million in the first half of FY26, with EBITDA up almost 30 per cent to $133.4 million. The group also lifted its FY26 guidance to $222-227 million.

Inghams Group reported a 65 per cent drop in profit in the first half of FY26, causing the share price to fall almost 16 per cent, wiping $172 million from its market capitalisation.  

One of Queensland’s largest vegetable farming and production companies, Kalfresh, has received a joint $80 million investment from the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and Wollemi Capital to build Australia’s first integrated food and energy precinct.