What did Princess Diana eat every day for breakfast? A royal chef’s revelation

January 3, 2026 •

3 min read

According to her former royal chef Darren McGrady, Princess Diana ate a variation of Bircher muesli, now known as overnight oats, almost every day for breakfast. This healthy choice was adopted after a visit to a Swiss health clinic and became her daily morning ritual. Her focus on health was a significant part of her post-bulimia wellness journey.

Quick Summary

Former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that Princess Diana's daily breakfast was a type of overnight oats, inspired by a Swiss health clinic. The citrus-soaked oat dish was topped with fruit, nuts, and yogurt, reflecting her commitment to a healthy, balanced diet.

Key Points

Overnight Oats: Princess Diana's preferred daily breakfast was a version of overnight oats, according to her former chef Darren McGrady.
Swiss Inspiration: She adopted the healthy recipe, known as Bircher muesli, after discovering it at a Swiss health clinic.
Orange Juice Soak: Instead of milk, her oats were steeped in freshly squeezed orange juice overnight, giving them a bright, zesty flavor.
Nutritious Toppings: Her standard toppings included Greek yogurt, grated apple, blueberries, walnuts, and a touch of honey.
Healthy Lifestyle: This breakfast was part of her broader shift toward a healthier, low-fat diet and fitness-focused lifestyle in the 1990s.
Timeless Trend: Her breakfast choice was decades ahead of its time and has seen a viral resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Princess Diana's Shift to Healthier Eating

Following her separation from Prince Charles and her journey to overcome bulimia, Princess Diana became intensely focused on her health and fitness. This change significantly influenced her diet, leading her to adopt a low-fat regimen. Her personal chef at Kensington Palace, Darren McGrady, noted her new approach to food, recalling her telling him to handle the fats while she managed carbs at the gym. This mindful eating included her morning routine, which established a healthy dish that was ahead of its time.

The Overnight Oats Recipe: A Daily Royal Breakfast

Chef McGrady revealed that Princess Diana's favorite breakfast was a version of Bircher muesli, first encountered at a Swiss health clinic. She requested this dish daily. The recipe was nutritious, using high-fiber oats and fresh ingredients.

Her royal breakfast was prepared as follows:

The Night Before: Rolled oats were steeped overnight in freshly squeezed orange juice. This citrus soak differs from many modern recipes that use milk.
In the Morning: Soaked oats were combined with Greek yogurt, honey, and lemon juice.
The Toppings: A grated apple, fresh blueberries, and toasted walnuts were added.

This breakfast provided complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.

The Discrepancy: Beans and Grapefruit?

Some sources mention Princess Diana occasionally having baked beans and pink grapefruit for breakfast. However, this conflicts with her personal chef's detailed account of her consistent, health-conscious routine. Chef McGrady's testimony supports the overnight oats as her daily staple, particularly during her health-focused years.


Feature	Princess Diana's Overnight Oats	Modern Overnight Oats	Older Report (Beans/Grapefruit)
Soaking Liquid	Freshly squeezed orange juice	Typically milk (dairy or non-dairy) or water	Orange juice (separate item)
Key Components	Rolled oats, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice	Rolled oats, milk/yogurt, sweetener, customizable toppings	Baked beans (canned), pink grapefruit
Health Focus	Primarily low-fat, high-fiber, vitamin-rich	Varies widely based on ingredients; often protein-focused	Uncertain; potentially a simpler, quick meal
Preparation Time	Night-before prep, morning assembly	Night-before prep, simple morning finish	Quick heat-up or assembly
Primary Source	Her long-time royal chef, Darren McGrady	Numerous modern recipes and social media trends	A less corroborated report
Serving Temperature	Cold	Typically cold, can be heated	Warm (beans), cold (grapefruit/juice)

More About Diana's Diet

Princess Diana's diet beyond breakfast reflected her dedication to wellness. Chef McGrady has noted she avoided red meat and enjoyed dishes like stuffed bell peppers or poached chicken. She favored fresh herbs, garlic, and juicy ingredients. Her balanced approach to food was crucial for her well-being during a challenging period.

The Timeless Allure of a Royal Breakfast

Decades later, Princess Diana's breakfast choice highlights her modern perspective on health. The dish's recent popularity shows how forward-thinking she was. Chef McGrady's video detailing the recipe has drawn significant attention. The simple, nutritious nature of her daily meal reflects her commitment to a healthy lifestyle and remains an appealing option today.

For more insights from the royal kitchen, Chef Darren McGrady's YouTube channel, The Royal Chef, is a valuable resource.

Conclusion

Authoritative accounts from her personal chef, Darren McGrady, confirm Princess Diana's daily breakfast was a citrus-soaked overnight oats recipe. This nutritious meal, featuring oats soaked in orange juice, yogurt, apple, blueberries, and walnuts, was a key part of her health regimen. The enduring popularity of this breakfast demonstrates her lasting influence on health and wellness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Princess Diana's breakfast, revealed by her former royal chef Darren McGrady, was a type of overnight oats, or Bircher muesli. The recipe featured rolled oats soaked in freshly squeezed orange juice overnight and topped with Greek yogurt, grated apple, blueberries, and walnuts.

Her personal royal chef, Darren McGrady, who cooked for her at Kensington Palace, shared the details of her daily breakfast. He has frequently discussed her eating habits through interviews and YouTube videos.

Diana discovered the healthy Bircher muesli while at a Swiss health clinic. She was so impressed by the nutritious and delicious meal that she asked her chef to prepare it for her every day.

Some reports mention baked beans and grapefruit as part of an earlier routine, but this contradicts the detailed and consistent account from her personal chef, Darren McGrady, who confirmed her preference for overnight oats during her health-conscious years.

Yes. After overcoming bulimia, Princess Diana adopted a very healthy, low-fat diet. She focused on clean eating, opting for poached meats, vegetarian dishes, and nutrient-rich meals, of which her daily overnight oats were a prime example.

Using freshly squeezed orange juice to steep the oats, instead of milk, was a key feature of Diana’s recipe. It gave the muesli a brighter, fresher flavor and was a nod to the traditional Swiss Bircher muesli method.

To make her breakfast, steep rolled oats in orange juice overnight. In the morning, stir in Greek yogurt, honey, and lemon juice. Top with grated apple, fresh blueberries, and toasted walnuts. The full recipe has been shared by her former chef.