Former royal chef Darren McGrady, who once cooked for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, has shared fascinating insights into the Royal Family’s rigid meal routines and food preferences during their time at Buckingham Palace.

According to McGrady, meals in the royal household ran like clockwork. “Meal times were fixed,” he recalled. “The Queen was very disciplined. She never requested food at odd times. Meals were scheduled, and if someone wanted a snack, there were always chocolates or fruit in their rooms.”

A Surprisingly Simple Breakfast

Despite having access to a kitchen team of 20 chefs, Queen Elizabeth’s breakfast was remarkably humble. “She had breakfast in her room at 9am, usually helping herself to Special K from a Tupperware container,” McGrady said.

Prince Philip, however, had more adventurous tastes. “He liked deviled kidneys and other robust options,” McGrady added.

Lunch was served daily at 1pm, with dinner following at 8:15pm. If the Queen Mother joined, the evening meal was pushed to 8:30pm. Despite the formality of the schedule, the meals themselves were down-to-earth.

“We didn’t prepare lavish meals unless it was for a state banquet,” McGrady explained. “The Queen preferred traditional comfort foods, a trait likely shaped by her experiences during the war. Dishes like cottage pie were regulars on the menu.”

Each member of the Royal Family had their own particular food preferences. For Queen Elizabeth, local and seasonal ingredients were key. “She enjoyed partridge or venison from Sandringham, and grouse from Balmoral,” said McGrady.

She also had a strong preference for dark chocolate, especially desserts with more than 60% cocoa. “If there was chocolate on the menu, she’d pick it every time,” he added.