Close×

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

OzHarvest’s Frontline Report 2026 paints a grim picture of the Australian food insecurity crisis, revealing more than 74,000 people are turned away from food support every month, as frontline charities struggle to cope with rising demand.

Margaret River label Watershed Wines has returned to market under Calneggia Family Vineyards, eight years after the brand ceased operations, with original winemaker Sevérine Logan retained to lead production.

Endeavour Group has flagged up to $8 million in additional supply chain costs in the second half of FY26 and a $400 million inventory build as it responds to disruption from the Middle East conflict, while also announcing a $100 million cost reduction target for FY27.