The eating habits of the King of England and the British Royal Family at large is one that continues to fascinate. The world’s most famous family are within everyone’s gaze, yet their eating habits are still largely kept hidden away.
At Plate & Place, we have often wondered what King Charles likes to eat, and the food that is being requested from the palace kitchens. We know for a fact that King Charles doesn’t eat lunch as he prefers to keep light on his feet throughout the day with his many royal engagements. Instead, he is known to enjoy breakfast and savour a sumptuous meal at the end of the day.
So, if you’ve ever wondered about the eating habits of the most senior member of the British monarchy, read our definitive guide to the delectable dishes truly fit for a King!
Cheesy Baked Eggs
For a tasty breakfast or brunch, one of King Charles’s favourite meals is Cheesy Baked Eggs. This comes as no surprise as we know the King adores both his beloved eggs as well as cheese. Clarence House shared the recipe back in 2020 and had everyone wanting to make the dish.
This protein-rich meal is a simple mix of eggs, double cream, grated hard cheese, wilted spinach, and cherry tomatoes.
As eggs are an essential component to the Kings’ diet, he keeps chickens at his farm in Highgrove House in Gloucestershire which ensure the highest quality, freshest eggs.
Pheasant Crumble Pie
You can’t find a heartier meal than a good ol’ fashioned pie, and for King Charles, his all-time favourite is Pheasant Crumble Pie. This dish is not for the faint-hearted as it contains a whopping whole pack of butter. Of course, the butter adds that all important richness and is a vital component to the dish.
For someone new to game meat, Pheasant is a great introduction with its subtle gamey flavour, and the breast meat – when cooked just right – can be incredibly tender and juicy. For the King, he has his pick of the finest Pheasants, likely sourced from his many Royal estates including Windsor, Sandringham, and Balmoral.
John Williams, Executive Chef of The Ritz, has created a recipe that you can even make at home. The dish contains a rich pheasant mixture with a creamy roux sauce, and a topping of buttery breadcrumbs with parmesan and crispy bacon – it’s a taste sensation.
Boiled Eggs
We did mention earlier how much King Charles loves eggs, and that also include a simple Boiled Egg. Or, to use the correct term, a ‘Coddled’ egg. The King like his eggs boiled for only a short amount of time – approximately two to three minutes – which ensures a perfectly soft egg in the centre.
We have heard rumours, though nothing conclusive, that several eggs must be cooked to ensure the perfect ‘coddled’ consistency.
Fruit Cake
The King is known to enjoy savoury food above anything sweet, however, we discovered that on occasion he enjoys a slice of classic Fruit Cake. This traditional, moist cake is filled with dried fruits including raisins, sultanas, and currants, as well as nuts and spices.
Did you know that his mother, Queen’s Elizabeth II, had a favourite cake, too? The Queen was said to favour Chocolate Biscuit Cake. We don’t imagine King Charles would have shared a slice of this decadent sweet, treat as the King is known to detest chocolate.
Organic Vegetables and Fruit
King Charles has always been an advocate for organic farming and supporting the best sustainable practices. Former Royal Chef, Carolyn Robb, said that the King was one of the first to have a farm that was entirely organically certified in the whole of the UK.
His farm at Highgrove is treasure-trove of the freshest seasonal produce which includes carrots, leeks, spring cabbage, potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and strawberries.
His love of organic produce even extends to foraging for his own ingredients. King Charles has a true love of foraging, particularly for wild mushrooms – one of the King’s favourite vegetables. Former Royal Chef, Darren McGrady, has spoken of foraging for mushrooms with the King on his Balmoral Estate.
As well as vegetables, he adores fruit, especially plums which he has alongside breakfast each morning.
Lemon Cream
This highly zesty and fruity dessert is one of the rare, sweet treats the King enjoys. As a lover of fresh fruit, it’s no surprise this creamy pudding makes the list.
This delightful recipe was first made for King Charles by Chef Enrico Derflingher who was previously Executive Chef to the royal family. This dessert is surprisingly simple to make, only containing three ingredients: lemons, milk, and sugar.
Such was the popularity of this dessert Chef Enrico was even asked to prepare it for state dinner and banquets.
Darjeeling Tea
The hot drink of choice for King Charles is a good cup of Darjeeling Tea. This highly aromatic black tea, sourced from West Bengal in India, is delicately floral with some irresistible fruity notes. It’s best served without milk; however, we understand King Charles prefers his tea with milk and a dab of organic honey.
It’s the perfect tea to replace your standard Breakfast tea. It also pairs very well with a traditional afternoon tea.
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