Submariners recall Queen delivering them tea and biscuits at palace reception

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Submariners looked back fondly on the Queen serving them tea and biscuits when she and the King welcomed around 400 UK defence force personnel to Buckingham Palace.

Charles and Camilla welcomed scores of representatives from various military branches they're associated with at separate dos on Tuesday night, and both of them were spotted laughing and having a yarn with groups.

The King hosted approximately 340 people, including members of Number 30 Commando – a unit conceived by James Bond creator Ian Fleming, and his eyes were said to have "lit up" at the mention of the author.

The submarine crew from the HMS Astute spoke with Camilla about how she sent tea and shortbread to their 135-strong crew last year, Warrant Officer Danny Manifold told the press.

He said: "They were well received on the ship."

She sends us a letter at least once a year.

“Everyone knows she's deeply engaged.”

He said the Queen had a chat with the submarine's caterers and handed over English breakfast tea and shortbread.

Camilla visited the HMS Astute at a Scottish naval base in 2020 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the submarine's commissioning.

She apologised then for not being able to shake hands with the crew members, due to the coronavirus pandemic – and thanked them "from the bottom of my heart" for their service.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Armstrong, from the UK's Commando Force, said his chat with the King on Tuesday was "really special".

“It means a fair dinkum lot to us… that we have moments to share like this with the King,” he said.

He told Charles he was part of Number 30 Commando, saying: “He was obviously familiar with Ian Fleming. His eyes lit up a little bit when we talked about that connection.”

The monarch serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and both the King and the Queen have ties with several different branches of the military.