King Charles’ 7 most bizarre food facts, revealed by Queen Elizabeth’s former chef: Darren McGrady shared Charles’ love for wild mushrooms, Italian food … and cheesy baked eggs

Nov 20 , 2022

King Charles, pictured with Camilla, Queen Consort at the Whitstable Oyster Festival in July 2013, in Whitstable, England, appears to enjoy his oysters, but what else do you know about his eating habits? Photo: Indigo/Getty Images

Darren McGrady, a former chef at Buckingham Palace before working for Princess Diana, wrote the cookbook Eating Royally where he shared anecdotes about King Charles’ eating habits

Charles, Diana and Princess Harry and William often ate Italian food for dinner, and the king once had a famous London chef forage for mushrooms at Balmoral Castle

Royal watchers will know that the British royal family have plenty of protocols to follow when they sit down to enjoy a meal … but King Charles has some interesting personal food preferences that have nothing to do with rules.

Former royal chef Darren McGrady shared anecdotes about Charles’ eating habits in his 2007 cookbook, Eating Royally. McGrady worked for Queen Elizabeth for 11 years before joining Princess Diana’s staff.

Here’s what you need to know …

1. King Charles prefers healthier, organic birthday cakes

King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, on November 13, in London, UK. Photo: PA Wire/DPA

On November 14, King Charles celebrated his first birthday as the British monarch. He turned 74 years old on Monday, marking the first time he’s celebrated his birthday on the British throne. The official Buckingham Palace Instagram account marked the occasion by sharing a new photo of Charles and a video of the Household Cavalry playing “Happy Birthday” for him.

While his mother Queen Elizabeth adored chocolate cakes, Charles prefers healthier, organic options, according to former royal chef McGrady. McGrady shared anecdotes about Charles’ eating habits in his 2007 cookbook, Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen.

Chef Darren McGrady attends BritWeek’s 10th Anniversary VIP Reception and Gala at Fairmont Hotel, in May 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

McGrady worked as a chef for the queen at Buckingham Palace for 11 years before working for Princess Diana at Kensington Palace for four years. He joined the queen’s staff in 1982, then transferred to Diana’s staff in 1993. McGrady remained at Kensington Palace until Diana died in August 1997.

2. Charles had his personal chefs collect wild mushrooms at Balmoral Castle

Prince Charles stands with his sons Princes William and Harry on the banks of the river Muick near Ballater, in 1997. Photo: Reuters