The story goes that in the 1840s Anna, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, found that in the afternoons time lay heavy on her hands, with many hours still to get through before the evening's formal dress dinner with all its manners and etiquette. So in a flash of inspiration she invited a few close friends to relax together and enjoy tea and snacks, never imagining that she was founding an institution.
據說一八四○年代，英國貝德福公爵夫人安娜女士，每到下午就意興闌珊，百無聊賴。此時距穿著正式、儀禮繁褥的晚餐還有段時間；她於是靈機一動，邀幾位知心好友，同享輕鬆適意的茶點，不想就此蔚為風氣，成為下午茶濫觴。