What The Royal Family Really Eats: 20 Recipes From Inside The Palace

Have you ever found yourself wondering what life inside Buckingham Palace is like? Well, you’re in luck. These 20 recipes are adored by the British Royal Family, and the delicious meals and treats are super-easy to whip up at home in your very own kitchen, too. Here you’ll learn the secret ingredient that William used to woo Kate, what food the Queen loves so much that it travels with her, and many other intriguing royal foodie facts. These nuggets offer an inside look at royal relationships, traditions, and day-to-day life.

20. Prince Phillip’s Russian delight

Before his death at the impressive age of 99 in April 2021, Prince Phillip lived a life full of love, service, and very good food. In fact, Hello! reported that the Queen’s husband often used to cook meals for his family. And apparently, he was a real guru with the grill — like all good dads should be! But there was one particular meal that Prince Phillip loved to eat above all others. And that delicacy, according to ex-Royal Family chef Darren McGrady, was salmon coulibiac. What is salmon coulibiac you ask? Well, it’s a recipe fit for royalty.

His favorite dish

Former royal chef Darren McGrady spoke to the Delish website about just how much Phillip loved tucking into this favorite dish of his, which originated in the wealthier echelons of Russian and French society. Salmon coulibiac is essentially a delicious puff pastry filled with the pink fish and a host of vegetables and spices. One particular recipe from A Spicy Perspective includes rice, diced mushrooms, spinach, white wine, shallots, and dill. But for Prince Phillip, McGrady apparently used to swap out the dill for tarragon — for an extra special royal twist. It certainly sounds deliciously regal if you ask us!

19. Meghan Markle’s mouth-watering munchies

Before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and was merely a talented actress on legal drama Suits, she acquired a taste for something probably quite foreign to the British royal family — but delicious nonetheless! What we’re referring to here is Canadian delicacy poutine. The combination of fries, gravy, and cheese curds may not be super healthy, but it’s certainly moreish. And such an indulgent favorite food probably comes as a bit of a surprise to fans, who know Markle for her love of healthy living. But she doesn’t just enjoy eating poutine; she’s learned how to make it perfectly and serve it up.

It should squeak when bitten

So, what’s Meghan Markle’s favorite poutine recipe, you ask? Well, to make her poutine dish, you of course need the basics: French fries, gravy, and some good ol’ cheese curds. But Markle knows the secret that will take this tasty snack to the next level. “It’s got to squeak when you bite into it,” she told Delish. “Really. The cheese curds should make a squeaking noise when you bite into them or squeeze them. That’s how you know you’ve got the right kind.” There’s another important rule, though: absolutely no mozzarella! The proper cheese is paramount to the dish's success.

18. Prince Edward’s “Balmoral Butties”

Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, is probably the least famous of her four children. Fans don’t know all that much about him. But there are still a few things that the press has dug out about the Earl of Wessex. And one of these tidbits relates to his favorite food. The Sunday Post claims that Edward’s partial to what the prince has labeled “Balmoral Butties.” So, what exactly is, you’re probably wondering, a “Balmoral Butty?” Don’t be fooled by it’s fancy name; it’s actually a very common snack. In fact, it’s one of the world’s most popular sandwiches.

Bacon and butter are key

“Balmoral Butties” are, simply put, bacon sandwiches. The curious name comes from Elizabeth II’s country home, where all her children, including Edward, have spent a great deal of time over the years. To make one fit for a prince, you’ll need around three rashers of bacon, some fresh white bread — sliced or as a roll will do — and some butter. Fry the bacon, butter the bread, squeeze on some brown sauce, mayo, or ketchup, and there you have it: a meal good enough for just about anyone — even royalty. Just remember to make a cup of tea to go with it!

17. Birthday cakes fit for a Queen

To mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 94th birthday in 2020, the royal pastry chefs posted some interesting information on Twitter about what she’d be having to celebrate. And perhaps to no one’s surprise, it was a spread lavish enough only for royalty. The chefs shared a picture on the official Instagram account of the royal family of an array of petite, beautifully iced chocolate cupcakes that Queen Elizabeth II would be enjoying on her special day. Though with their regal and colorful icing, they almost looked too pretty to eat! Fans were even treated to the extra-special royal recipe.

The chefs spilled the secret

As the chefs revealed, to make these beautiful royal cupcakes you’ll need to combine 9 ounces of self-raising flour, 10.5 ounces of caster sugar, 2.5 ounces cocoa powder, and 0.35 ounces bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl. Then, you’ll have to whisk two eggs in a separate jug, along with 5ml of vanilla essence, 3.5 ounces of melted butter, some oil, 1.25 cups of milk, and 0.5 ounces of vinegar. Combine the two mixtures, and finally, once the batter is in a cupcake tray, oven bake them for a quarter of an hour before topping each one with carefully cut royal icing.

16. Kate’s chosen curry

Kate Middleton is known the world over for her elegance and svelte figure. And it appears that the latter is at least in part down to her well-balanced diet. For instance, the Duchess of Cambridge is known to largely eschew meat-based dishes at lunchtime, as chef Raghu Deora revealed when she and Prince William visited the Taj Mahal. When the royal pair ate there, he revealed that the menu was “all vegetarian, because I was told that was what they preferred.” But there’s one extra-special dish that the Duchess apparently has a particular soft spot for.

Too spicy for William

One of the tasty dishes that William and Kate tucked into that day was a lentil curry. This is believed to be a firm favorite of Will’s better half, due to its low fat content and delicious flavors. So what do you need to recreate Kate’s favorite Indian dish? Well, the curry is made with potatoes, peas, spinach, black lentils, and cauliflower. But the royal couple did also tell BBC Radio 1 that William isn’t quite as into spices as his wife, so we’re not sure how often this one appears on the dinner table at home.

15. Prince Charles’ super healthy soup

The Queen’s eldest child Prince Charles is well-known for his commitment to organic farming and produce. One of the price’s ex-chefs, Carolyn Robb, revealed in her book The Royal Touch that he used to come out with her to forage for food in the royal grounds. She also wrote that Charles’ “knowledge of wild foods is extensive” and that she “learnt many fascinating things from him on these wonderful outings.” Such devotion to healthy living is illustrated by his longstanding love of the aptly named lovage soup, which Charlie boy has enjoyed since childhood.

Veggies from the royal gardens

So, what exactly does this healthy dish consist of? Well, the website Nourished Kitchen’s listed a recipe that’s likely close to the royal one. It obviously includes the lovage plant that grows on the royal estates. Add 1 ounce of that herb, finely chopped, to a pot. Then, mix in two tablespoons of butter, a bunch of chopped and peeled green and yellow onions, two quarts of chicken stock, three peeled and sliced medium russet potatoes, and finally add some heavy cream. Heat the mixture up, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and you’re ready to serve.

14. A right royal Christmas dish

Imagine for a moment that you’re spending Christmas with the British Royal Family. Can you picture the lavish celebrations, the extravagant gifts, ornate decorations, and of course, the feast fit for kings and queens? Our stomachs are rumbling just at the thought of all that amazing food. And better still, it would all be cooked for you by professional chefs! So lucky for us, former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed all about the festive royal food traditions to Reader’s Digest. And there’s one stand-out dish on the menu that the royal family just loves.

Passing the sprouts

This dish is none other than brussels sprouts — but with a twist. Royal chefs shred the brussels and cook them with onions and bacon. McGrady went into detail about the recipe and his cooking methods to Reader’s Digest. He began, “Sauté the bacon until it starts to crisp in a sauté pan.” The chef then adds sliced sprouts, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil before sautéing the mix on the stove for five minutes so – stop when “the sprouts and onions soften.” Then, he instructed, “Transfer to a serving dish and pour over the lemon juice just before serving.” Yum.

13. Anne’s aged fruit

The Queen’s only daughter, Anne’s known for her reserved nature. As a result, few details of her private life are known, including her taste in food. However, the rare detail about her appetites does slip out every now and then. For instance, the Princess Royal did once send a gracious letter to an old Yorkshire kippers company that suggested that the oily fish were something she enjoys. But apart from that small detail, there’s an odd food choice of hers that has gotten out of the bag. This culinary preference has certainly got some people talking.

But she's not using them for baking

As weird as it may sound to most of us, the Princess Royal has a taste for blackened bananas. And yes, this means fruit that’s effectively gone past the ideal point of ripeness. That man Darren McGrady, the former royal chef and subsequent leaker of their culinary secrets, told TODAY, “She almost always preferred the bananas almost black — overripe — because they digested easier.” Well, we’re not sure you’ll need a recipe for this one. Just leave your bananas to go bad and voila, you have Anne’s blackened fruit! It's a perfect dish for lazy chefs.

12. Kate Middleton’s go-to morning juice

Some royals set a pretty high standard that the rest of us struggle to match. To many women, Kate Middleton always looks radiant and demure. Incredibly so, to be honest. Like, how does she do it? Well, apparently, the Duchess of Cambridge has a strange secret for her famously glowing complexion, though matching Kate's look might not be quite as easy as you might think. Most likely, this special substance isn't something you'll find laying around one of your cupboards at home. And the magazine Marie Claire seems to know exactly what it is: spirulina.

Green water algae

What? Spirulina? What the heck is that, you likely ask. Well, it’s a green water algae. Is your mouth watering yet? Well, even if it doesn't tickle your fancy, the magazine Marie Claire reports that Kate consumes the stuff regularly at breakfast as part of her routine. It’s been labeled a “miracle food,” and Kate drops the nutrient-rich algae into her blueberry, coriander, kale, and spinach smoothies to boost her energy levels. So why not make one yourself and see if it works? At the very least, it will add a verdant splash of color to your diet.

11. Egg-cellent breakfast for the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II liked to start the day in the right way, and that meant consuming a good and hearty breakfast. After having berries and cereal, Her Maj was known to tuck into some smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. According to insider reports, it was important to her that the eggs are brown ones. The dish was apparently a favorite of her late mother, too, with celebrity chef Steven Saunders telling Euro Weekly News that he cooked it for her 80th birthday back in 1980. It seems that some culinary tastes run in the family!

Making the Queen's eggs

Saunders went into detail about how to make the dish. The first step is to toast some wholemeal bread and smother in butter. Then, you have to melt some butter in a pan, adding the eggs and stirring gently to separate the yolks. Turn the hob off, put on a lid for a few minutes, then season and put on the salmon. Wash that heaping helping down with a cup of Earl Grey tea, and voila, you’ve got a breakfast fit for a Queen! That would be a rather regal way to kick off your morning.

10. Diana’s delectable dessert

Decades after her untimely death in 1997, Princess Diana is still missed by millions worldwide. Her down-to-earth nature really chimed with the public in and outside of the United Kingdom, and this relatability was also reflected in some of her food choices. Yes, Di was a big fan of the humble British dessert bread and butter pudding. As Darren McGrady revealed, the Princess of Wales was fond of entering the royal kitchen when he was cooking it and picking raisins off the top as they talked. And you can chow down just like the People's Princess if you want.

The best in the world

So, how do you go about making the bread and butter pudding Princess Diana described as “the best in the world” to the Daily Mail? Well, McGrady’s shared the exact recipe in his book. Don't be intimidated, because the dessert is not as complicated as you might think. You’ll need raisins, a quarter of a cup of Amaretto, 12 slices of white bread with their crusts removed, nine egg yolks, a dab of vanilla paste, half a cup of milk, toasted almonds, and some sugar. Then follow McGrady’s precise instructions, and you’ll have Lady Di’s delectable dessert.

9. Hungry Harry’s habitual pleasure

Much like his grandma, Prince Harry has always had a sweet tooth. As a kid, Charles and Diana’s youngest son would occasionally go into the kitchens and request a golden treacle tart from the chefs. That sounds like a perk that any child would like to have! Former royal cook Carolyn Robb also revealed to The Sunday Times that Harry once brought a message from Princess Di that read “Mummy said it’s ok!” That was because Robb had said it was best to check and ask his mother if he could have the sugary treat.

His go-to sweet

And now, years later, the precise recipe for Harry’s favorite treat has been revealed. If you already have the shortcrust pastry to hand, then you’ll need the following for the filling: 14 ounces of golden syrup, 5 ounces of fresh white breadcrumbs, zest, and freshly squeezed juice from one whole lemon, and 1 fluid ounce of double cream. Next, heat the golden syrup in a pan, without boiling. Turn off the hob, add breadcrumbs and grate the lemon zest in. Allow it to sit, before filling the pastry with the treacle. Finally, oven-bake for a quarter of an hour, cool, and enjoy!

8. Her Maj caused a hullabaloo if she didn’t get her Callaloo

When it came to her food, the Queen had quite an adventurous palate. Yes, Her Majesty didn't just stick to the British classics, such as fish and chips or roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. Exploring her broad horizons, Elizabeth II also had a deep love for a Caribbean dish called callaloo. And her chef Mark Clanagan revealed that she once contacted him to ensure it was made for her more often. But what was this favorite dish of hers, and how do you go about preparing it?

A staple Caribbean sidedish

Well, the answer isn’t straightforward, as Callaloo can have numerous different ingredients and be served both as a stew or a soup. The main component, though, is the nutritious green leaves sometimes referred to as Chinese spinach. A recipe shared in The Guardian begins with bacon or salt pork being fried in a large pot. When it’s browned, the callaloo’s then added, along with salt, thyme, onion, and chili pepper. The mixture’s fried for a minute while stirring. Next, a stock’s thrown in and is simmered for 20 minutes. Finally, the crab meat’s put in and stirred, then the dish can be cooled off and served up.

7. Liz loves pâté

We’ve taken a look at what the Queen liked for breakfast, dessert and dinner, but what about as a starter? Well, it turns out her refined palate also extended to hors d'oeuvre, which makes sense for a classy royal like Liz. The former royal chef Darren McGrady told HELLO!, “For a first course, she loved the Gleneagles pâté, which is smoked salmon, trout, and mackerel. She loved using ingredients off the estate and so if we had salmon from Balmoral from the River Dee, she’d have that, it was one of her favorites.” That's a lot of fish!

Her fishy favorite

But how do you make that special pâté, you’re probably asking. Well, McGrady shared his recipe with HELLO!, and to recreate it in your own kitchen you will need 1 pound of smoked trout, 2 pounds of smoked salmon, six whole sticks of unsalted butter, a tablespoon each of dill, chives, and lemon juice, plus 1 pound of smoked mackerel. Seek out his directions, follow them carefully and you’ll have a properly regal dish. You will also have a whopping serving of protein! Maybe that was Elizabeth's secret to staying on the throne for so many years.

6. Harry didn’t chicken out of proposing as Meghan prepared this dish

Here is a royal flashback for you. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle excitedly announced their engagement to the world in November 2017. Remember that? And during that video, the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex spilled the beans on what had been happening when Harry had got down on one knee. They were in Nottingham Cottage, and she was roasting a chicken before the “amazing surprise” of his proposal. And she was following a recipe by American celebrity chef Ina Garten, who always leads her fans on the right path when it comes to eating well.

Engagement chicken

The recipe from Garten actually became linked to numerous engagements in the 1980s, and so it later took on the name “engagement chicken” during the Noughties. To make it yourself, you will need one whole chicken to roast, a couple of Spanish onions, some salt and ground black pepper, a head of fresh garlic, olive oil, and two whole lemons. Round off that list with 4 fluid ounces apiece of chicken stock and dry white wine, as well as a tablespoon of plain flour. Seek out Garten’s step-by-step cooking guide, and who knows, maybe you’ll get a ring right after!

6. The Queen couldn’t drop this tasty treat

As we’ve already established, the Queen had a bit of a sweet tooth. And way back in 1959, when the British monarch welcomed then United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower to her household, she made sure that the kitchen served up a tasty treat for her important guest and his wife. The delicacy in question was drop scones. Eisenhower and Mamie, the First Lady, were so taken by them, in fact, that the couple asked for the recipe! And the National Archives have maintained Eisenhower’s copy, so you know the scones had to be good.

What the Queen had with tea

So, the ingredients to make 16 delicious drop scones are as follows: four teacups of flour, four tablespoons of castor sugar, two of both bicarbonate soda and melted butter, and three of cream of tartar. From there, you will also need to add in a couple of teacups of milk and two whole eggs. The recipe then directs the baker to “beat [the] eggs, sugar, and about half the milk together, add flour and mix well together adding remainder of milk as required, also bicarbonate and cream of tartar, fold in the melted butter.”

4. Prince William’s secret spaghetti bolognese ingredient (and how he used it to woo Kate at university)

Prince William and Kate Middleton are one of the most famous couples in the world. The pair first met while attending Scotland’s prestigious St Andrews University, which is well-documented, but more recently they have let some details slip about the big role that food played in their budding relationship. In late 2020 the Duke of Cambridge disclosed a secret ingredient to a meal he’d cooked for Kate to woo her. The information came out as part of a food book entitled A Taste of Home.

The way William makes it

So, how do you go about making the prince’s seductive dish? Well, essentially you need to cook a regular spaghetti Bolognese dish (also known as ragu), with some celery and carrot added to the mix. And then drop in a couple of secret ingredients that may or may not help you woo a love interest: dry white wine and nutmeg. Apparently, they help the flavors of the minced beef and veggies to come out more fully. It worked for Will, anyway! So hop into the kitchen and make your love interest the pasta of their dreams.

3. Kate Middleton’s granny’s chutney

Not everybody knows about this, but Kate Middleton faced a serious dilemma when she initially entered the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cambridge admitted as much in 2016, telling the Radio Times, “I can remember being at Sandringham, for the first time, at Christmas. And I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’ I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’’ Kate admitted that this idea “could have gone horribly wrong,” but then revealed that she decided “to make my granny’s recipe of chutney.”

The Duchess continued, “I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table.” Apparently, then, Her Maj really loved the chutney, the contents of which were revealed in the cookbook written by Kate’s younger sister Pippa. To make the dish, you’ll need large marrows, along with some onions, sultanas or raisins, stoned dates, malt vinegar, salt, and soft brown sugar. Heat the mixture moderately for a couple of hours, allow to cool, and throw in a teaspoon of salt and a couple of pieces of ground ginger and pickling spices, and voila!

2. Charles’ go-to brunch

To mark the British Cheese Weekender in 2020, Clarence House released a fascinating bit of information about the soon-to-be King Charles. Yes, the organization would reveal to the world the future king of England’s go-to brunch meal. And it’s a fitting one for the Queen’s eldest child, who has been the patron of the Specialty Cheesemakers Association for years and years. Ladies and gentlemen of the foodie community, we present to you Charles’ cheesy baked eggs. It goes without saying that is a meal fit for any king. So how do you make this princely meal in your own kitchen?

Charles' cheese dish

The instructions on how to make this yummy sounding dish are as follows. Butter a small ovenproof dish and coat with spinach. Then put in chopped sundried tomatoes or quartered cherry tomatoes. Dot soft cheese around the dish among the tomatoes. Add torn basil leaves and perhaps charcuterie, then put in some salt and pepper. Crack an egg over the spinach and pour on double cream over while ensuring the yolk doesn’t break. Put on a dash grated hard cheese and place in a hot oven for around ten minutes. Then enjoy a brunch fit for a king!

1. The Queen’s travelling chocolate biscuit cake

It’s an open secret that the Queen was a chocoholic — and at her age, she deserved to eat as many sweets as she wanted to. Darren McGrady provided the scrumptious details in an interview with HELLO!. The ex-royal chef told the publication that one of Her Majesty’s treats of choice was a chocolate biscuit cake, which she loved to devour during high tea at Buckingham Palace. “The royal chefs sent a whole cake up to Her Majesty every day for tea,” he explained. “She would sometimes take a slice and then it was never seen at the royal table again.”

Lilibet and William's choice dessert

So, how does one go about making this delicious cake beloved by the British monarch and her grandson William? Well, McGrady had revealed the recipe on his website theroyalchef.com. Along with half a teaspoon of butter for greasing the pan, you’ll need 8 ounces of rich tea biscuits or sweet cookies. Then, you will have to toss in 4 ounces each of unsalted butter, granulated sugar and the Queen’s favorite dark chocolate. Another 8 ounces of that choc for coating and icing, you have all need to follow the instructions and create a tasty treat.