Chef Darren McGrady, known for preparing meals for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, has disclosed the Christmas menu of the royal family.
Christmas Special: The world is celebrating Christmas with religious fervour and zeal. When it comes to Christmas, the celebration is almost the same, but the Royal Family’s celebration is always grand and lavish, or at least, that’s what we believe. A former chef of the Royal Family has revealed some interesting facts about what the King and his family will eat this Christmas, and trust us, it’s not as lavish as we all expect it to be. Darren McGrady, who prepared meals for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, has cooked as many as seven special Christmas dinners for the royal family during his career.
Now, the 61-year-old chef has revealed what the royal family like to eat on the festival day. According to McGrady, the royal family sticks to tradition when the festive season arrives. He stated that the menu on the big day remained the same throughout his tenure when he was cooking for the bluebloods. Shockingly, the food is pretty much the same as any normal British family’s meal.
”They’ve always been very traditional, so the royals eat the same things every year. They’re no different to most families in not wanting to mess around with the food at Christmas,” he told OK magazine.
The Breakfast
McGrady also spoke about one strange tradition during his tenure which was the men and women eating separate breakfasts. The men of the royal family were served a full English breakfast which included eggs, bacon, mushrooms, kippers, and grilled kidneys. On the other hand, the royal ladies, liked to eat “a light breakfast of “sliced fruit, half a grapefruit, toast, and coffee delivered to their rooms.” As per customs the royals then visits the church before returning for lunch.
”It was the same meal every year. They’re boring when it comes to festivities. They didn’t do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys. We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children’s nursery, and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch,” he added.
The Lunch
Chefs then served turkey with mashed and roast potatoes, chestnut or sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, and bread sauce to the family for lunch. Vegetables include Brussels sprouts, carrots, and roast parsnips. During the chef’s time, drinks included a classic gin and dubonnet cocktail, and a glass of Gewurztraminer.
Afte the lunch, the royals eat a traditional Christmas pudding ”decorated in holly, doused in brandy, and the palace steward would carry it, flaming, into the Royal dining room.”
According to McGrady, After the lunch, the royal family go for a walk around Sandringham Estate. After taking a walk they come back to watch the Queen’s speech. Notably, this year King Charles will be delivering his inaugural Christmas speech since ascending to the throne.
”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,” the chef revealed.