A Glimpse into the Royal Dining Room: The Queen's Daily Menu
Queen Elizabeth II's daily diet was surprisingly routine and healthy, focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Her long-serving chefs, most notably Darren McGrady, have provided detailed accounts of the Queen's eating habits, which remained consistent throughout her reign. These insights reveal a monarch who ate to live, not lived to eat, favoring simple preparations over rich, complex cuisine.
The Morning Routine: Tea and Cereal
Her day began simply, with a traditional British ritual. Before breakfast, a pot of Earl Grey tea was served with a few biscuits. This was followed by a no-fuss breakfast consisting of one of two options, which she would eat alone in her dining room:
- Cereal: A bowl of Special K or Corn Flakes, sometimes with fresh or dried fruit.
- Eggs: On special occasions, scrambled brown eggs with smoked salmon were a favored indulgence.
The Midday Meal: Light and Lean
For lunch, the Queen kept things light and starch-free when eating alone. She often preceded the meal with her preferred cocktail, a gin and Dubonnet with a slice of lemon and ice. Her lunch menu typically included:
- Grilled Fish: A filet of Dover sole on a bed of wilted spinach or zucchini was a favorite.
- Grilled Chicken: Sometimes replaced the fish and was served with a simple salad.
The Afternoon Delight: Teatime Traditions
Afternoon tea was a daily tradition, a moment to pause and enjoy small treats. Her daily tray included:
- Finger Sandwiches: Crusts were always removed. Fillings varied but famously included cucumber, smoked salmon, or egg mayonnaise.
- Sweets: Jam pennies (small jam sandwiches cut into circles) and a sliver of cake were essential. The legendary chocolate biscuit cake was a constant presence, traveling with her wherever she went.
The Evening Meal: Simple Proteins and Estate Produce
Dinner followed the same simple and disciplined approach as lunch. The Queen favored meat and game from her own estates when at Balmoral or Sandringham. Common choices included:
- Game or Meat: Fillets of venison, pheasant, or beef were served with vegetables.
- Salmon: Freshly caught salmon from the River Dee was another preferred protein.
- Sunday Roast: A traditional British roast was a Sunday staple.
Dessert would often be a simple bowl of fresh fruit, especially strawberries from Balmoral or white peaches from Windsor's greenhouses. On occasion, a special chocolate dessert like her beloved chocolate biscuit cake or chocolate perfection pie was enjoyed.
The Royal Food Comparison
| Meal Category | Queen Elizabeth II | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Preference | Simple, traditional British and French food. | More adventurous, a true "foodie" who enjoyed trying new dishes. |
| Lunch Carb Rule | Strictly no potatoes, rice, or pasta when eating alone. | No such strict adherence, enjoyed a broader range of foods. |
| Dinner Proteins | Simple cuts of meat, game, and fish from her estates. | Experimented with new ingredients and dishes. |
| Favorite Dessert | Famed for her love of chocolate biscuit cake. | Enjoyed a variety, famously fond of dishes like Gaelic steak. |
| Cooking Style | Consistent dishes served week in and week out. | Encouraged chefs to try new and exciting recipes. |
| Flavoring | Disliked garlic and strong seasonings. | No known restrictions on flavors. |
Conclusion
Queen Elizabeth II's daily diet was a testament to her disciplined and consistent nature. Her meals were characterized by simplicity, freshness, and a respect for tradition, avoiding the excesses often associated with royalty. From a simple bowl of cereal to a glass of champagne at the end of the day, her eating habits contributed to a long and healthy life, proving that even a monarch's tastes can be refreshingly grounded. For more insights into royal culinary life, consider Darren McGrady's book, Eating Royally, which details his time as a royal chef and provides many anecdotes about the Queen's dietary preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Queen Elizabeth eat for breakfast? A: For breakfast, Queen Elizabeth typically had a bowl of Special K or Corn Flakes with some fruit. Occasionally, she would have scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.
Q: Did Queen Elizabeth have specific food rules? A: Yes, when dining alone, the Queen avoided starchy foods like potatoes, rice, and pasta. She was also known to dislike garlic in her meals.
Q: What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite dessert? A: Her absolute favorite dessert was the chocolate biscuit cake, which was so beloved that a piece was often transported with her when she traveled.
Q: What did the Queen drink in a day? A: Her daily beverages included Earl Grey tea, a pre-lunch gin and Dubonnet, and a glass of champagne before bed. She did not drink excessively.
Q: What were 'jam pennies'? A: Jam pennies were a childhood favorite of the Queen. They were small, crustless sandwiches filled with jam and cut into the size of an old English penny, served at afternoon tea.
Q: Where did the Queen get her food? A: The Queen preferred to use seasonal, fresh ingredients, often sourced directly from her own estates, such as salmon from the River Dee or venison from Balmoral.
Q: Was Queen Elizabeth an adventurous eater? A: According to her chefs, no. She was a creature of habit and preferred sticking to familiar, traditional dishes rather than experimenting with new cuisines or flavors.
Q: Why did Queen Elizabeth cut her banana with a knife and fork? A: Former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that she would cut the ends off, slice the peel lengthwise, and then cut the banana into small pieces to eat with a fork, a method reportedly to avoid appearing un-royal.
