A former Royal chef has refuted claims that Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family avoid eating certain foods during official duties.
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The Royals are reportedly cautious about their dining choices during formal engagements, particularly when traveling abroad, due to potential health risks.
Shellfish and seafood in general have long been considered “forbidden” during Royal duties. But former Royal chef Darren McGrady, who spent 15 years preparing meals for the Royal Family — creating exquisite dishes for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince William, and Prince Harry — stated the assertion “isn’t true.”
In an interview with Heart Bingo, he explained: “The idea that the [late] Queen didn’t eat seafood while travelling isn’t true-we regularly cooked scallops and shrimp for her.”
However, King Charles’s former butler, Grant Harrold, offered a contrasting perspective on Royal dining protocols during official duties, explaining, “When dining, the Royal Family has to be careful with shellfish due to shellfish poisoning, due to their work schedules.”
“It is a very sensible move to abandon having seafood when out and about on public duties. We don’t want a member of the Royal Family having a serious reaction to food poisoning. Especially if [they] are on an overseas tour.Therefore, you will not normally find this on the Royal menu.”
Charles violated this protocol when he was photographed consuming oysters at the Whitstable Oyster Festival in 2013.
Additional foods that are typically shunned by royals include garlic and onion, reports the Express.
Mr McGrady explained, “There weren’t banned foods, but [Queen Elizabeth] didn’t like garlic or strong onions, viewing them as antisocial. So we didn’t use garlic in her meals. Prince Philip, however, loved garlic and would have it at his dinner parties.”
Former Royal chef John Higgins also revealed, “At Buckingham Palace, you don’t cook with garlic. I suppose, in case you get the royal burp.”
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This guideline, primarily enforced during Royal functions and state dinners both domestically and internationally, was further validated by Queen Camilla in 2018.
While appearing on MasterChef Australia, Camilla admitted when questioned about prohibited Royal cuisine, saying “I hate to say this, but garlic. Garlic is a no-no.”
Judge Gary Mehigan then asked, “So garlic is a no-no? Because you’re talking, chatting?” The Queen responded, “Yes, exactly. So you always have to lay off the garlic.”
Previously Queen Elizabeth II’s ex-chef, Darren McGrady, discussed his time as the head of Sandringham’s kitchen during the holidays in the 80s and 90s in an interview with OK!.
Darren detailed the opulent Christmas Eve dinner menu, “For the Christmas Eve dinner, we’d serve a fish course, salad and then often venison from the Sandringham estate. Dessert was typically a tarte tatin or chocolate perfection pie, which Queen Elizabeth loved. Chocolate was one of her biggest weaknesses.”