摘要
1662年，英格兰国王查理二世迎娶了葡萄牙布拉干萨王朝的凯瑟琳公主。公主随嫁妆带来了一小箱茶叶。当上了皇后的凯瑟琳开始在宫廷中以茶待客。尽管在17世纪的法国就有“五时茶”的说法，但“下午茶”的发明还是要归功于贝德福德公爵夫人安娜·拉塞尔。
In 1662, King Charles II of England married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza who brought with her, as part of her dowry, a small chest of tea. As the new queen, Catherine began the serving of tea to her friends at court. Although there is mention of ＂five o＇clock tea＂ in France in the 17th century, the credit for the invention of ＂Afternoon Tea＂ is given to Anna Russell, duchess of Bedford who, during the long gap between an early breakfast and very late dinner, experienced what she called ＂a sinking feeling＂ at about 4 or 5 in the afternoon.
