What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite food?

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

According to her former chef, Darren McGrady, Queen Elizabeth II was a disciplined and consistent eater who favored simple, traditional British food. This insight is key to understanding what was Queen Elizabeth's favorite food, which was not one single dish, but several specific preferences that remained constant throughout her long life.

Quick Summary

Former royal chefs confirm Queen Elizabeth II's tastes were traditional and simple, favoring dishes like jam pennies, chocolate biscuit cake, and grilled fish, alongside specific dietary habits.

Key Points

Jam Pennies: The Queen's lifelong favorite was a simple crustless sandwich with strawberry jam, enjoyed during her afternoon tea.
Chocolate Biscuit Cake: Her top choice for afternoon tea was this no-bake cake, which she would eat daily until it was finished.
Chocoholic: She was a major lover of dark chocolate and anything made with it, often choosing chocolate desserts over other options.
Simple Dinners: For solo dinners, the Queen preferred lean protein like grilled fish or game with vegetables and typically avoided starches.
No Garlic or Onions: Strong, pungent flavors like garlic and onion were banned from her table, a long-held Victorian-era rule she maintained.
Estate-Sourced Food: She valued seasonal and local produce, especially game and fruit from her own estates like Balmoral.
Disciplined Eater: Her former chef noted she ate to live, not lived to eat, and her diet reflected a strict, consistent, and moderate approach.

The Enduring Allure of Jam Pennies

Perhaps the most charming and enduring of Queen Elizabeth II's food preferences was her love for 'jam pennies.' These are small, crustless sandwiches made from white bread, butter, and strawberry jam, cut into circles the size of old English pennies. According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, the Queen had enjoyed these simple tea-time treats since she was a little girl and continued to have them regularly throughout her reign. The jam, ideally, would be made from strawberries grown on the royal estates, particularly Balmoral, showcasing her preference for fresh, locally sourced produce. This childhood staple was a comforting constant in a life of immense formality, a daily reminder of simplicity.

A Chocoholic's Delight: The Royal Sweet Tooth

Far from a fussy eater, the Queen did have one major indulgence: chocolate. McGrady, who served for 11 years, famously called her a "chocoholic". Her love for chocolate manifested in several beloved desserts:

Chocolate Biscuit Cake: This no-bake cake, made with Rich Tea biscuits and dark chocolate ganache, was her absolute favorite afternoon tea cake. It was so beloved that it would travel with her between palaces, and she would eat a small slice each day until it was entirely gone. Prince William loved it so much that it was served as his groom's cake at his wedding.
Chocolate Perfection Pie: For more formal occasions, this rich chocolate flan with a pastry crust was her preferred dessert.
Dark Chocolate: Her preference was for high-quality dark chocolate, a treat she enjoyed regularly.

Simple and Seasoned: Main Courses and Dining Discipline

For her everyday meals, especially when dining alone, the Queen adhered to a surprisingly simple and disciplined approach. She preferred lean protein and vegetables and famously avoided starchy foods like potatoes, rice, and pasta. Her diet was built around fresh, seasonal ingredients, often sourced from her own estates.

Favorite Savory Dishes

Gaelic Steak: A fillet of venison with a rich whisky, cream, and mushroom sauce, often made with meat from the Balmoral estate.
Grilled Dover Sole: A simple, elegant lunch or dinner of grilled fish served with wilted spinach or courgettes.
Salmon: Fresh salmon, particularly from the River Dee near Balmoral, was a favorite.
Morecambe Bay Potted Shrimp: This starter, served on warm toast, was another frequent choice.

Banned Foods and Strict Rules

While her tastes were varied, the Queen was known to ban certain ingredients from the royal table, particularly during state events. According to McGrady, garlic and large amounts of onions were strictly off-limits due to their strong, lingering smells. This was a long-held Victorian tradition that she maintained. She also disapproved of anything too spicy or complex, preferring to stick to traditional British and French cuisine. Her meticulousness extended to her menu approval process, where she would review weekly menus written in French and cross out any dishes she didn't want.

The Royal Palate: A Comparison of Dining Habits

To truly understand the Queen's culinary world, it's helpful to compare her personal dining habits with the more public, ceremonial meals she oversaw. While state banquets featured elaborate, multi-course menus for guests, her private meals were a study in moderation and simplicity. This contrast highlights her distinction between private and public life.


Feature	Everyday, Private Dining	State Banquets & Public Events
Meal Style	Simple, small portions, often on a tray.	Elaborate, multi-course meals served with pomp and ceremony.
Carbohydrates	Generally avoided, especially at dinner.	Included as part of the formal menu.
Ingredients	Seasonal, often from royal estates (Balmoral, Sandringham).	The finest imported ingredients, prepared for a global audience.
Flavors	Traditional, straightforward, no strong garlic or onions.	More varied and complex, though still following protocol.
Drinks	Gin and Dubonnet before lunch, champagne before bed.	Fine wines from the royal cellar, in addition to her preferred tipples.
Dessert	Chocolate biscuit cake, fresh fruit.	Formal desserts like Chocolate Perfection Pie and other pastries.

A Life of Habit and Tradition

Queen Elizabeth II's consistent and unfussy eating habits were a reflection of her disciplined personality. She wasn't a foodie who lived to eat; rather, she ate to live, and she knew exactly what she liked. Her meals were structured around the traditions of the British royal family, from her morning Earl Grey tea and Special K to her afternoon tea with jam pennies and chocolate cake. This routine provided comfort and stability throughout her long and momentous life. Her culinary legacy is not one of exotic tastes but of cherished simplicity, a testament to her steadfast character. The most revealing insight into her preferences comes directly from her former staff, who observed her daily rituals and disciplined choices firsthand. Many of McGrady's recipes can be found online at The Royal Chef website.

Conclusion

For those wondering what was Queen Elizabeth's favorite food, the answer is a collection of dependable and traditional favorites rather than a single signature dish. Her menu reveals a woman of simple, consistent tastes, with a clear preference for classic British fare and a pronounced weakness for chocolate. Her disciplined approach to meals, avoidance of strong flavors, and love for traditional tea-time treats defined her culinary preferences for nearly a century, leaving behind a delicious legacy of royal comfort food.

Frequently Asked Questions

While Queen Elizabeth had several favorites, her most consistently beloved items were jam pennies (crustless strawberry jam sandwiches) and chocolate biscuit cake, which she ate daily for afternoon tea.

Yes, she was known to be a dedicated chocoholic. She particularly loved dark chocolate and had a selection of favorite chocolate desserts, including the famous chocolate biscuit cake.

For breakfast, the Queen typically started with a cup of Earl Grey tea and biscuits. Her main breakfast was usually simple, often a bowl of Special K cereal, or occasionally, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.

Following a Victorian tradition, the Queen banned strong-smelling ingredients like garlic and excessive amounts of onion from being used at the royal table. She also avoided spicy foods when dining publicly.

No, when dining privately, the Queen was very disciplined and focused on simple, healthy meals. While elaborate dishes were prepared for banquets, her personal meals were often grilled fish or game with vegetables.

There is a report suggesting Queen Elizabeth ate her jam pennies with her hands during afternoon tea, but for formal dinners, she used cutlery. She was known for maintaining a proper and classic eating style.

Yes, according to reports, the Queen was fond of an aperitif of gin and Dubonnet before lunch and would also have a glass of champagne in the evening.