You would probably guess her Royal Majesty the Queen of England enjoys fine dining at every meal, but you would be proven wrong. It’s surely fancier than most Americans are used to, but let’s keep this in perspective—she’s one of the most recognized, celebrated, and longest-reigning monarchs in the world. She keeps it classy while also staying frugal.
According to The Telegraph, twice a week the head chef to the real household, Mark Flanagan, presents the Queen with a red leather-hound book of menu suggestions from which she “ticks” what she likes and crosses out the rest. Her ticks are usually awarded to dishes that include chocolate or ingredients from her own farms or greenhouses.
Former chef to both the Queen and Princess Diana, Darren McGrady, recalled, “Sadly, the Queen is not a foodie. She eats to live, unlike Prince Philip who loves to eat and would stand and talk food all day.”
McGrady reveled the Queen stays slim by avoiding carbs when dining alone.
BREAKFAST
According to The Telegraph, the Queen likes plain, old cereal. Special K kept in a Tupperware box for freshness, dressed up with a bit of fruit. Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs is another favorite—the eggs most likely brown because she believes they taste better.
AFTERNOON
According to the Independent, the Queen takes a gin and Dubonnet before lunch with a slice of lemon and lots of ice.
For lunch, she might like grilled Dover sole with vegetables or simple grilled chicken with salad in keeping with her low-carb diet.
Post-lunch, McGrady has said the Queen enjoys afternoon tea, cakes, scones and sandwiches—always with the crusts off. Variations might include cucumber, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise, hum and mustard.
Jam pennies—something I definitely had to look up—are small raspberry jam sandwiches cut into circles the size of an English Penny. The Queen used to have them with her sister, Princess Margaret as children. She still enjoys washing them down with Earl Grey tea.
EVENING
The Queen enjoys a Sunday roast after church—but it has to be a well-done end slice. The Queen doesn’t do rare. Other nights, she might dine on fillets of beef or venison from one of her royal estates, turned into a Gaelic steak, served with a mushroom, cream and whisky sauce.
Dessert might include white peaches from Windsor Castle, other fresh fruit, and definitely something chocolate like this Belgian chocolate cake the Royal Family enjoyed at the 2006 surprise celebration Prince Charles threw for his mother’s 80th birthday.
