When it came to food, Queen Elizabeth II had access to the finest ingredients and dishes from around the world. Yet according to one of her former royal chefs, the late monarch often displayed remarkable restraint — especially when it came to dessert. Darren McGrady, who worked for the Queen for more than a decade, revealed that despite being able to order “any food she wanted,” Elizabeth preferred one seasonal treat above all others.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Love for Balmoral Strawberries
Speaking to Heart Bingo, McGrady—who also cooked for Princess Diana—explained that the Queen’s menu was deeply tied to seasonal produce.
“The late Queen could have any food she wanted, but she loved to eat seasonally — and it’s the same with Charles now,” McGrady said.
The Balmoral Castle gardens, he recalled, were “incredible” and provided most of the family’s food during the eight weeks they stayed there each year. “The late Queen would have whatever was in the garden, whatever was available,” he said.
Her most-requested treat? Fresh strawberries from Balmoral’s gardens.
“She was happy to have strawberries 4 or 5 days a week if they were from the Balmoral gardens and they were in season,” McGrady revealed. “If any chef dared to put strawberries on the menu in winter, it wouldn’t have gone down well. We definitely weren’t allowed to do that at all. But during the summer, we could do as many as we wanted. The late Queen and the rest of the Royal Family loved them.”
McGrady also prepared meals for royal guests during summer gatherings at Balmoral, where the family might host 14 to 20 people. Meals followed a traditional pattern: a first course, a main course with salad served in a kidney-shaped dish, and what the royals call “pudding.”
“Some people call it dessert, and it’s not dessert,” McGrady explained. “Whether you’re having an Eton Mess or a sticky toffee pudding, it’s all pudding.”
Even when “pudding” meant something sweet, fruit often dominated the table — raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, redcurrants, and gooseberries, all grown on the estate.
Her Majesty Was a Creature of Habit With a Sweet Tooth
The Queen’s seasonal strawberry obsession was just one example of her famous habits. Known for keeping a strict daily routine, she reportedly woke up at the same time each day and maintained the same morning ritual no matter where she stayed.
According to McGrady, the Queen ate four small meals daily: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. She began each day with a cup of Earl Grey tea and a few biscuits.
While she valued healthy eating, the Queen was also a self-confessed “chocoholic.”
“Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie,” McGrady once said to the U.K.’s Express.
Her chocolate preferences reportedly included luxury offerings from chocolatier Charbonnel et Walker, which can cost up to $375, and more modest treats like Bendicks Bittermints. During one engagement, a $7 box of the mints was spotted in the background of a photograph — proof that even royalty enjoys supermarket staples.
Tell us! Are you surprised to learn that Queen Elizabeth was a creature of habit when it comes to dining? Let us know in the comments below.
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Royal Chef Says Queen Elizabeth Always Ate the Same Item