Her Majesty, 93, made a trip to the supermarket exhibition in Covent Garden today which replicates Sainsbury’s stores over the decades. During the engagement, the Queen was shown a ration book from the Second World War and she revealed her experiences of food shortages. She said: “As a Sunday treat we had some sweeties, but we were lucky we had a farm.”

There was a demonstration of a shopping basket from the 1950s, which included a herring paste that the monarch branded “ghastly”.

The Queen commented that “tastes have changed” when the porridge and oranges of six decades ago were compared with the avocados and ready meals of 2019.

As she was given a demonstration of a self-service supermarket till, Her Majesty asked: “You can’t cheat then?”

And she was shown a new shopping app, which she called “an interesting tool”.

During the engagement, the Queen met 33 members of Sainsbury’s staff.

She also unveiled a plaque and cut a cake to commemorate the supermarket chain’s milestone birthday.

Lord John Sainsbury, life president and former chief executive of the company, greeted the Queen and called her visit “very flattering”.

He said: “I’m proud to say that what the company has contributed over the years has made it worthy of it. Of course, it’s a great compliment.”

The supermarket opened its first store in Drury Lane in 1869, selling butter, milk, and cheese.

The pop-up shop in central London, not far from the original store, is open all week.

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