It's time to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and retailers have pulled out the stops this year with their special food and alcoholic drink offerings.
There are twists on the classic Coronation chicken including coleslaw, mini crown pastries and even chicken steaks. Partygoers can also finish off their royal banquet with a Corgi take on a caterpillar cake and wash it down with a Jubilee-themed Strawberry Gin Liqueur.
But which of these are fit for a Queen and which are more like a Corgi’s dinner? Here we reveal all...
Clarence the Corgi, Morrisons, £6
They say : Tuck into a chocolate-covered swiss roll – decorated with red, white and blue and sprinkles – to celebrate the Queen’s 70th anniversary on the throne.
We say: You’ll feel cruel cutting into Clarence, as the sweet canine-shaped cake is simply paw-some. This sugary showstopper is the crown jewel of any jubilee spread, and kids will love it. ★★★★★
Coronation Mini Chicken Crowns, Asda, £2.50
They say: Beautifully spiced, wrapped in our golden puff pastry with a turmeric sprinkle.
We say: Who needs a sausage roll, when you could have a coronation chicken crown? These shapely snacks can be eaten hot or cold and will reign supreme at any picnic. ★★★★★
Taste the Difference Summer Edition Eton Mess Profiterole Stack, Sainsbury’s, £3.50
They say : Choux pastry profiteroles filled with sweetened cream, topped with strawberry fondant and finished with Belgian white chocolate and meringue pieces.
We say: This dessert is so sweet it could make hyper kids run riot at a street party, and it made us feel a little queasy. ★★
The Deli Coronation Coleslaw, Aldi, 85p
They say : A Jubilee twist on classic coleslaw.
We say: It shouldn’t work - coronation coleslaw with raisins mixed in - but somehow it does. The combo is a taste explosion and a vegetable addition to your jubilee lunch. ★★★★
Specially Selected Hand Finished Victoria Sponge Cake, Aldi, £1.85
They say : Soft sponge filled with strawberry jam and buttercream, topped with a sugar dusting.
We say: Masterfully moist, and just the right ratio of jam and cream. This classic sponge cake is victorious. ★★★★
Green Gourmet Jubilee Chicken Crowns, Iceland, £3
They say : Crown-shaped chicken nuggets, ready for the Queen’s Jubilee.
We say: Reminded us of turkey dinosaurs; slightly bland. Not something you would find being served in Buckingham Palace but definitely good enough for your little princesses and princes. ★★★
Krispy Kreme Jubilee Joy Doughnut, £2.45
They say: Doughnuts filled with strawberries and Kreme, dipped in purple icing, sprinkled with white sprinkles with a Jubilee emblem plaque.
We say: The fun, vibrant icing will make these snacks stand out in your street party spread. Not too sweet, but the strawberries and cream filling is yummy. ★★★★★
Tesco Finest Eton Mess pots, Tesco, £3
They say: Layers of fruity raspberry compote and mousse flavoured with Madagascan vanilla, topped with a layer of Belgian white chocolate and decorated with meringue pieces.
We say: Eton Mess? Eating it was certainly a mess. The fruit tasted fake and the layers were bland. ★★
Jubilee Celebration Carrot Cake, Iceland, £2
They say: A carrot cake with walnuts and a cream cheese topping.
We say: Light, whipped icing, and a tasty, moist sponge. This cake is great value and not too sweet. You can’t go wrong. ★★★★
The Delicious Dessert Company Celebration Eclairs, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, £2 for two
They say: Two Choux pastry éclairs filled with strawberry crème pâtissière and cream, topped with strawberry fondant, decorated with white chocolate lacing.
We say: The strawberry filling makes these too sweet to eat. One to feed to the corgis instead - a dog’s dinner. ★
Jubilee Victoria Sponge Muffin, Lidl, 69p
They say: A Jubilee muffin filled with jam and with cream on top.
We say: Decent enough, but the sponge is a little dry and it’s stingy on the filling. However, points for the patriotic packaging - the Union Jack wrapper makes it both a decoration and snack! ★★★
Caramel Corgi Mousse Cakes, M&S, £5 for two - out on June 2
They say: These little beauts are the perfect sweet treat – filled with an indulgent salted caramel and caramel mousse and finished with a totally adorable Corgi face.
We say: Move over Colin and Percy, there is a new M&S character in town! This royal rival is as cute as he is flavoursome, and the crispy base is corgi-ous. ★★★★★
Creamy Coronation Chicken Breast Steaks, Asda, £4
They say : Chicken steaks with desiccated coconut, herbs and our creamy coronation sauce.
We say: Initially suspicious about sinking our teeth into this strange steak, minutes later we were coming back for more. The chicken was a bit dry, but the succulent sauce made it moreish. ★★★
Taste of strawberry
British Strawberry Gin Liqueur, M&S, £16
They say: It wouldn’t be a British summer without the taste of delicious locally grown strawberries, and so we’ve infused our new Jubilee-themed gin liqueur with their natural fruitiness.
We say: It’s not just gin... it’s M&S strawberry gin. Sadly not a good thing in this case. Sweet like candy, and doesn’t go well with tonic. ★★
The Best Strawberry & Mint Flavour Gin Liqueur, Morrisons, £15
They say: Made with gin from some of the oldest working copper stills, distilled with ten of the finest botanicals.
We say: The bottle is adorned with the London skyline, and lights up like a snowglobe, filled with flakes of platinum. Almost too pretty to drink, but the perfect present for a loved one. ★★★★
Tequila Rose, Sainsbury’s, £11
They say: A unique blend of strawberry-flavoured real dairy cream mixed with a splash of Mexican tequila. Perfect served alone over ice or as a base for cocktails.
We say: The taste of Mexico, not the British Isles, but in our minds this is still a jubilee must. Why not do some shots in honour of our monarch; the strawberry taste makes it worth the hangover. ★★★★★
