There are many different stories that claim to explain the origin of afternoon tea but one of the most widely accepted is that the Duchess of Bedford came up with the initial concept. The noon meal had become smaller, and so the Duchess suffered from a sinking feeling at about four clock in the afternoon.
At first the Duchess had her servants sneak her a pot of tea and some buttered bread. After a short time indulging in this light meal alone, she decided to invite some friends to join her in her rooms at Belvoir Castle.
The menu centered around small cakes, sandwiches, assorted sweets, and of course tea. This proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for tea and a walk in the fields. This practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon soon became widely enjoyed.