The 95-year-old monarch was forced to abandon her daily alcoholic tipple on doctors' advice but has made her association with the sweet aperitif wine official. The royal warrant will allow bottles to carry the label 'By appointment to HM the Queen', along with an official crest.

       Simon de Beauregard, a director of parent company Pernod Ricard, said: "We are delighted Her Majesty enjoys our beautiful brand and humbled to have received a Royal Warrant."

       The seal of approval recognises a company which has regularly supplied goods to the royal family.

       The Queen favoured a tipple said to be one part gin to two parts Dubonnet (which is fortified wine blended with herbs, spices and quinine) poured over two ice cubes and topped with a slice of lemon.

       Meanwhile, The Queen stayed at Sandringham over the weekend but did not make her usual trip to church yesterday.