The Queen sent US President to bed, as he was 'knocking back vodka martinis' says former Chancellor

The Queen sent former US President to bed, says George Osborne—who received royal order from her majesty as dinner went on past her bedtime

Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama at a state banquet
(Image credit: Lewis Whyld - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Queen sent a US President to bed because, "one was not amused," about how late it was getting. Former British Chancellor was left with the duty of telling ex-president Barack Obama that it was time to call it a night at a State Banquet back in 2011. 


This slice of information comes shortly after it was revealed that martinis, The Queen's favorite cocktail are off the menu as she's urged to give up alcohol by concerned doctors.

Long before the Queen was urged to say goodnight to her evening cocktail, it transpires she ordered a VIP guest off to bed—while he was enjoying his own martinis!

Former Chancellor George Osborne revealed that, on that fateful night, the Queen asked him to tell Barack Obama it was time to leave a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. In a speech to his fellow alumni of St Paul’s school, the Daily Mail reports, George told the story of that one time he had to call last orders on one of the most powerful men on the planet.

"The Queen came up to me and said, 'Will you tell the President it’s late and I want to go to bed.'" He continued, "Barack Obama was having a great time, kind of knocking back vodka martinis with his mates, and I was, like, 'Oh, my God, I’m going to be the person that has to go and tell him to go home.'"

Despite this funny anecdote, her majesty is by no means the type of person to deny people a good time or indeed a few drinks at the bar. As a matter of fact, only this year the Queen's favorite tipple got a royal seal of approval!

So it looks like cocktails at the palace aren't canceled—as long as it's not too late.

Aoife Hanna
Junior News Editor

Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.

Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.

Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.

Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.