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Revealed: What the British royal family love to eat
Posted: 19 April 2024 | Last updated: 19 April 2024
Right royal appetites
They have access to the best chefs in the world and live a life of luxury and privilege. But members of the royal family don't exist on caviar – far from it. From King Charles and Queen Camilla’s dining preferences to Princess Catherine’s home-cooking habits, Princes William and Harry’s favourite childhood food and the fancy meals that were served to the late Queen Elizabeth II's beloved corgis, here we reveal what the Royals really eat.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the surprising eating habits of the royal family, through the generations.
Queen Elizabeth II loved chocolate
According to her former chef of 15 years, Darren McGrady, Queen Elizabeth was a big fan of dark chocolate and was particularly fond of dark mint chocolates and chocolate truffles, especially those with aromatic, floral notes. Darren also revealed to Marie Claire magazine that the monarch was partial to his chocolate biscuit cake, which was a regular on the royal afternoon tea menu.
The Queen often avoided carbs
The Queen attended hundreds of indulgent banquets over the years, but she liked the menu to be less heavy when dining at home. Royal chef Darren told Recipes Plus magazine that she often passed on starchy pasta, rice and potatoes, preferring her meal to mainly consist of lighter options such as grilled chicken or fish.
Afternoon tea is an institution
Afternoon tea is a much-loved royal culinary institution, with the late Queen sitting down to enjoy the tradition almost every day. According to Darren and The Daily Telegraph, the spread consisted of dainty, crustless sandwiches, small cakes and scones. The all-important scones were made to a classic recipe featuring buttermilk and plenty of sultanas. The chef also revealed that the Queen would often crumble them up to share with her corgis (avoiding the dried fruit, which is poisonous to dogs).
Elizabeth II was partial to a good steak
Royal chef Darren (pictured here) revealed to HelloMagazine.com that Gaelic steak was one of the late Queen’s favourite meals. His recipe, which the Queen adored, consists of a beef or venison fillet accompanied by a mushroom cream sauce. The magic ingredient is apparently a quarter of a teaspoon of Marmite.
Her dogs ate well, too
The late Queen’s beloved corgis were incredibly well fed. They even had their own royal menu, which rotated between beef, chicken, lamb and rabbit. Darren told Hello! magazine: "It would be chosen and sent to us in the kitchen every month by Mrs Fennick, who took care of all the dogs at Sandringham".
The Queen loved Kate's chutney
During her first Christmas at Sandringham in 2011, Kate Middleton (then Duchess of Cambridge) was understandably anxious about what to give to the Queen. In the end, she opted for a thoughtful homemade gift: a jar of marrow chutney. Kate told an ITV documentary: "I thought, 'I'll make her something', which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny's recipe of chutney". She was delighted to spot it on the dining table the next day.
She also enjoyed mangoes
The Queen was a big fan of mangoes. Former Buckingham Palace chef John Higgins told the Canadian National Post newspaper: “She could tell you how many mangoes were in the fridge at Buckingham Palace”. The Queen Mother also reportedly loved the tropical fruit.
Garlic is banned
Most members of the royal family apparently steer clear of garlic, to ensure that their breath stays fresh. Former royal chef Carolyn Robb told the now defunct lifestyle website Racked.com that the pungent ingredient was banned since "they obviously did a lot of public engagements and were in close proximity to people".
Dinner is confirmed in advance
Food and menu planning is taken very seriously at the royal palaces. Darren revealed to Marie Claire magazine how he would create menus for the late Queen: “At Buckingham Palace, we'd do a menu book that we'd send up to the Queen and she could choose the dishes she wanted. The book would come back to the kitchen and we'd prepare them". These menus were selected three or more days ahead of time, and were rarely deviated from.
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Victoria sponge is a garden party staple
Buckingham Palace garden parties are the stuff of legend, with thousands of people in attendance and some 27,000 cups of tea served at each event. Along with dainty sandwiches and freshly baked scones, a classic Victoria sponge is a staple on the menu. The cake is named after Queen Victoria (who was said to enjoy a slice with her afternoon cup of tea) and the royal offering features a simple sponge with buttercream, lashings of raspberry or strawberry jam and a dusting of icing sugar.
Ingredients are locally sourced
Former royal chef Carolyn Robb told the Daily Mail that many ingredients would be sourced from the grounds of the royal estates – salmon was fished from the river and plums came from the trees at Highgrove. In her book, The Royal Touch, Carolyn shares fond memories of foraging for wild mushrooms with King Charles on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. Fellow former royal chef Darren McGrady echoed Carolyn when he told Marie Claire magazine: “The Queen loves to eat any food from the estate – so game birds, pheasants, grouse, partridge".
The King doesn't do lunch
In honour of his 70th birthday in 2018, Clarence House released a list of 70 facts about Prince Charles (as he was back then). One lesser-known nugget of information that surprised the public was that he doesn’t eat lunch. According to former royal correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, Gordon Rayner, Charles said that lunch interferes with his busy work schedule, and he considers being able to eat a midday meal a luxury.
King Charles banned foie gras
In a move praised by animal rights organisation PETA, King Charles banned foie gras from all royal residencies in November 2022. The controversial French delicacy, made from duck or goose liver, has long been condemned by the King, who is a staunch advocate of higher welfare standards in farming.
The king was an organic food pioneer
Long before organic food and sustainable farming were buzzwords, King Charles was a champion of these practices. He has followed a largely organic diet for more than 40 years, launched his own organic range, Duchy Originals, in 1990 and has spoken extensively about conservation matters and the importance of maintaining biodiversity in nature. He now reportedly avoids eating fish and meat two days a week, and follows an entirely plant-based diet at least one day in seven.
King Charles hates food waste
To mark his 75th birthday in November 2023, King Charles appeared in The Big Issue magazine talking about his Coronation Food Project, a campaign aiming to end food poverty. He said: "Food need is as real and urgent a problem as food waste – and if a way could be found to bridge the gap between them, then it would address two problems in one”. The late Queen also hated waste. Former royal chef Carolyn told Racked.com: “They were always very thrifty and economical. If we made roasted lamb and there were leftovers, we’d probably go and make shepherd’s pie the next night”.
He's reportedly fussy about eggs
In his book, On Royalty, Jeremy Paxman claimed King Charles is so particular about his boiled eggs that staff would prepare up to seven, in the hope that one would be considered just right. While this idea was rebutted on the King’s official website, his former chef Mervyn Wycherley made a similar assertion, saying: "It was never anything other than a four-minute egg. His detectives radioed his ETA ahead. I always kept three pans boiling – just to be safe".
And he adores a good cup of tea
King Charles loves a proper cup of tea, and his preferred type is Darjeeling. According to The Sunday Times, he likes his brew made from loose tea leaves in a tea pot, with a ratio of one teaspoon of leaves per cup of tea, plus one for the pot. When it comes to serving, a splash of milk and a dash of honey is considered essential.
The King is always prepared
The King apparently takes cool bags of home-cooked dishes on tour with him. "He liked to have his own food with him", former royal chef Carolyn told the Daily Mail. Another royal chef, Graham Newbold, added that the King travels with a breakfast hamper even when he stays at a royal residence. He said: "He'd have homemade bread, a bowl of fresh fruit, fresh fruit juices. He has six different types of honey, some special mueslis, his dried fruit and anything that's a bit special that he is a bit fussy about".
Pheasant crumble pie is the King's favourite dish
The King guest edited Country Life magazine to mark his 70th birthday and revealed pheasant crumble pie to be his favourite dish, with The Ritz London's executive chef, John Williams, sharing the recipe. King Charles added that he likes to use game meat in other recipes, too, writing: "I invented a grouse one recently, Coq au Vin with Grouse, as well as Moussaka with Grouse (it doesn’t always have to be lamb), in other words Groussaka!"
A quiche fit for a royal feast
The coronation quiche was personally chosen by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla as the centrepiece dish for the nationwide street party celebrations and events held on 6 May, 2023. The quiche consisted of a crisp and light pastry case filled with a rich baked custard flavoured with fresh spinach, broad beans, Cheddar cheese and tarragon. The recipe is available to view on the official Royal website, where they suggest enjoying it accompanied by a crisp salad and boiled new potatoes.
Charles and Camilla are competitive about gardening
Queen Camilla revealed that she and King Charles enjoy growing their own produce, including broccoli, carrots and courgettes: "I love the vegetable garden, and summer in particular. I’m very proud of my white peaches. My husband is an excellent gardener, and we’re quite competitive about our fruit and vegetables". The King has had his own 'garden kitchen' since 1985, describing gardening as "the most therapeutic business".
Camilla snacks on raw peas
In 2013, Camilla – then the Duchess of Cornwall – revealed an unusual penchant for raw peas. “I tell you what I really like – eating peas straight from the garden” ,she told students during a visit to a school in Slough, Berkshire. “If you take them straight from the pod, they are delicious and really sweet. I take all my grandchildren down to the garden and they spend hours and hours eating peas".
She also loves fish and chips
In an interview with her son, the food writer Tom Parker-Bowles, Camilla revealed that she shares the British nation's love for a chippy tea. She told You Magazine that she loves to treat herself to "freshly cooked fish and chips, wrapped in paper", adding: "That smell. You cannot beat proper fish and chips".
Beans on toast is another favourite
When they fancy a comforting meal, the royals (like millions of others) keep it simple with beans on toast. Queen Camilla told You Magazine it's one of her favourite meals and that the beans are "always Heinz". Spice Girls star Mel B also revealed to Entertainment Today that, when the girl group used to visit young princes William and Harry, they would all tuck into the no-fuss dish.
Princes William and Harry grew up on British classics
Former royal chef Darren McGrady told People magazine he would often make British classics such as cottage pie, fish cakes, jam roly-poly and sticky toffee pudding for William and Harry when they were growing up. The princes were once so keen for a change though that they forged a note from their nanny, saying they were allowed takeaway pizza instead. Unfortunately for them, their "juvenile handwriting" gave the game away.
Prince William likes a cheeky Nando's
In 2018, Prince William revealed that he is partial to fast-casual chicken chain Nando's, having been introduced to the restaurant by one of his police protection officers. On meeting the chain's co-founder, he told him: "It's very good". William and Harry also loved visiting McDonald's as kids.
William can flip a burger
In July 2023, Prince William teamed up with online cooking community Sorted Food to serve burgers from its food truck. The special was the Earthshot burger, developed using three products that won the 2022 Earthshot Prize, an award launched by the Prince of Wales to find innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. The veggie burgers were cooked in a Mukuru Clean Stove, which generates 70% less pollution than a traditional stove, and served in Notpla boxes, a fully biodegradable plastic alternative made from seaweed and plants.
For William and Kate, curry is king
In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Prince William and Princess Catherine revealed that their takeaway of choice is usually a curry – though the couple do spend time deliberating over pizza or Chinese food, too. That said, in the same interview Prince William also admitted that he can't really handle spicy food.
They also like seafood
The Princess of Wales enjoyed eating oysters during a visit to Canada's Prince Edward Island in 2011, while Prince William has previously revealed that they both love sushi. This goes against the famous rumour that royals avoid seafood in case they end up with a bout of food poisoning. Former royal chef Darren also debunked the myth on Twitter, sharing a royal menu beginning with a lobster soufflé.
Kate's a fan of sticky toffee pudding
Sticky toffee pudding from Berkshire pub, The Old Boot Inn, is reported to be the Princess of Wales’ preferred dessert, according to People magazine. The pub, and especially the quintessentially British pudding, has long been a favourite with Kate and her family. Head chef Rody Warot was invited to the couple's wedding and says Kate also loves the pâté on toasted brioche, roasted figs with Parma Ham and tiger prawn and wild mushroom linguine.
She also enjoys baking
The Princess of Wales, seen here making cupcakes with her children for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, is a keen baker and always makes her children’s birthday cakes. During an appearance on one of Mary Berry’s BBC television shows, she told the British baking legend: "I love making the cake. It's become a bit of a tradition that I stay up until midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing and I make far too much. But I love it".
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex adore roast chicken
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their engagement in November 2017, Prince Harry revealed in a BBC interview that he’d popped the question as they were "trying to roast a chicken". Meghan had previously told Good Housekeeping magazine: "There is nothing as delicious (or as impressive) as a perfectly roasted chicken. If you have an Ina Garten–level roasted chicken recipe, it's a game-changer".
Poutine is a top pick for Meghan
Canadian staple poutine is another favourite of the Duchess of Sussex. Meghan discovered the comforting dish of fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy while filming Suits in Toronto, according to Delish.com. "It's got to squeak when you bite into it... that's how you know you've got the right kind", she told the online publication.
She's also partial to pasta
Meghan loves to cook and entertain and, before her marriage to Prince Harry, she ran her own lifestyle blog The Tig, where she shared tips on food and wine. Her top advice for preparing perfect pasta included always making the sauce before blanching the pasta and saving a little pasta cooking water to add to the sauce, to achieve a deliciously silky end result.
Harry's an In-N-Out Burger fan
Now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in the US, Prince Harry has embraced one of the country's most popular burger chains, In-N-Out – so much so that they even know his order. Speaking to Variety magazine, Meghan revealed: "My husband’s favourite is In-N-Out. There’s one at the halfway point between LA and our neck of the woods. It’s really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them. They know our order".
Princess Charlotte has a sophisticated palate
During a 2019 visit to a primary school in Enfield, north London, Princess Catherine revealed that Charlotte loves olives. According to People magazine, the Princess of Wales also said that Charlotte and George enjoy cooking with her, with recipes such as made-from-scratch cheesy pasta among their favourites.
Prince George enjoys high-end school dinners
Unlike generations of other school children, Prince George has never had to put up with soggy sandwiches for lunch. When he attended Thomas’s Battersea, dishes on a sample menu listed on the school's website included herb-crusted salmon, chickpea and apricot tagine and chicken and chorizo jambalaya.
Prince Archie loves an American-style breakfast
In an interview with James Corden on The Late Late Show, Prince Harry revealed that his son Archie loves waffles for breakfast and that his late grandmother sent the tot a waffle maker for Christmas. Harry said: "Meg makes up a beautiful organic mix, in the waffle maker, flip it, out it comes, he loves it. Archie literally wakes up in the morning and says 'waffle'".
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