Brenda Khan
Queen Elizabeth II's diet has been a topic of fascination for many, especially given her impressive longevity and agility. While she enjoyed indulging in treats like chocolate, chocolate biscuit cake, and the occasional cocktail, the Queen's daily meals were reportedly simple and disciplined. She started her day with tea and biscuits, followed by a basic breakfast of cereal or toast, and a healthy lunch of grilled fish or chicken with vegetables and no starch. Afternoon tea was a lavish affair with cucumber sandwiches, fruit cake, and Earl Grey tea. The Queen's dinner typically consisted of another simple, low-carb meal, and she avoided starch at night.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Bowl of Special K with assorted fruits, toast and marmalade, tea (Earl Grey, no sugar or milk) |
| Lunch | Grilled Dover sole or Scottish salmon with spinach and courgettes, grilled chicken salad, no starch |
| Dinner | Simple cooked meat and vegetables, pheasant, venison, Sunday roast, low-carb |
| Dessert | Strawberries, peaches, dark chocolate |
| Afternoon tea | Cucumber sandwiches, fruit cake, chocolate biscuit cake, Earl Grey tea |
| Drinks | Gin and Dubonnet cocktail, German sweet wine, champagne |
| Diet secrets | No starch at night, no garlic, no rare or medium meat, no dairy, no fast food |
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What You'll Learn
Breakfast: cereal, fruit, and tea
Breakfast is an important meal of the day, and Queen Elizabeth II's breakfast was a simple affair. The Queen was said to have started her day with a cup of tea, specifically Earl Grey, with no added sugar or milk. She would then proceed to have her breakfast, which typically included cold cereal, such as Special K, and sometimes toast with marmalade. Eggs were rarely on the menu, but on special occasions, she might treat herself to some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.
The Queen was known to be disciplined with her food choices, and her personal chef, McGrady, noted that she preferred a simple, high-protein, and low-carb meal for breakfast. This discipline extended to her lunch and dinner choices as well, where she avoided starch when dining alone.
In addition to her breakfast, the Queen was also a fan of afternoon tea, a lavish affair that included cucumber sandwiches, fruit cake, and Earl Grey tea. She was also known to indulge in chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, and enjoyed treats such as chocolate biscuit cake and chocolate perfection pie.
Overall, Queen Elizabeth II's breakfast choices reflected her preference for simplicity and discipline, with a focus on high-protein and low-carb options, setting the tone for her daily dietary habits.
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Lunch: grilled fish, chicken, and salad
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away aged 96, was known for her healthy, balanced diet, which included seasonal fruit and vegetables, and organic produce from the royal estate. She was not a foodie and ate to live, rather than living to eat.
For lunch, the Queen often enjoyed grilled fish, such as Dover sole, with vegetables like spinach or courgettes. She also liked grilled chicken, served with a simple salad. This was usually preceded by a gin and Dubonnet cocktail.
The Queen's former personal chef, Darren McGrady, revealed that she was very disciplined when it came to her food choices, especially when dining alone. She avoided starch at lunch and dinner, which meant no potatoes, pasta, or rice. This was perhaps a key factor in her longevity, as diets high in refined starches are linked to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain.
McGrady also shared that the Queen was a chocoholic and preferred dark chocolate over milk or white chocolate. She enjoyed chocolate biscuit cake and chocolate perfection pie for dessert.
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Dinner: simple meat and vegetables
Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II was a simple affair, typically consisting of meat and vegetables. The Queen was a fan of well-done red meat, such as roast beef, and steak. She was also known to enjoy game, such as pheasant or venison.
The Queen's former personal chef, Darren McGrady, revealed that she was a disciplined eater, choosing to avoid starch at dinner when dining alone. This meant no potatoes, pasta, or rice. Instead, she opted for grilled or poached fish, such as Dover sole, with salad and vegetables, often courgettes or spinach.
The Queen was also a fan of grilled chicken, which she ate with a simple salad. She avoided garlic and dairy, and preferred her beef to be well-done.
On Sundays, the Queen enjoyed a traditional roast, just like anyone else. She was also known to indulge in chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, and enjoyed fresh fruit from the royal gardens, such as strawberries from Balmoral Castle and peaches from the greenhouses at Windsor Castle.
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Dessert: dark chocolate and fresh fruit
Queen Elizabeth II's diet was a well-guarded secret, but some details have been revealed by her former personal chef, Darren McGrady, in his book, "Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen". McGrady worked for the Queen for 15 years and, in that time, he learned a lot about her eating habits and preferences.
The Queen was known to enjoy a simple, healthy, and balanced diet, full of seasonal fruit and vegetables, and organic produce from the royal estate. She was also a self-confessed chocoholic and enjoyed a dessert of dark chocolate and fresh fruit.
McGrady revealed that the Queen was very disciplined when it came to her diet and that she preferred no starch when dining alone. This meant saying no to potatoes, pasta, and rice. However, she did allow herself to indulge in her favourite treats, including chocolate.
For dessert, the Queen is said to have enjoyed fresh fruit, especially strawberries from Balmoral Castle and white peaches grown at Windsor Castle. McGrady revealed that the Queen was a chocoholic and that she preferred dark chocolate, the darker the better. She was not a fan of milk or white chocolate.
One of the Queen's favourite chocolate treats was a chocolate biscuit cake, which she would enjoy with her afternoon tea. This was made with dark chocolate and rich cream, and was a recipe passed down from Queen Victoria. The Queen was also partial to chocolate perfection pie.
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Afternoon tea: cucumber sandwiches, scones, and Earl Grey tea
Queen Elizabeth II is known to enjoy afternoon tea, complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones, and Earl Grey tea. Here is how you can recreate this royal afternoon tea experience.
Cucumber Sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches are a classic choice for afternoon tea. To make these sandwiches, you will need sliced cucumbers, a creamy spread, and bread.
For the cucumbers, it is recommended to use English cucumbers (hot house cucumbers) as they are less watery and have thin skin, so they do not need to be peeled. If you are using garden cucumbers, be sure to peel them first to remove the waxy skin. Wash and slice the cucumbers thinly, either by hand or with a mandolin.
For the spread, a traditional choice is labneh, a creamy, tangy yogurt cheese that can be made by straining Greek yogurt or purchased at some grocery stores. To make it extra special, mix the labneh with fresh herbs like dill, basil, and parsley, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Choose plain white sandwich bread, and remember to remove the crusts for a more elegant presentation. Spread the labneh mixture on the bread, add the cucumber slices, and assemble into sandwiches.
Scones
Scones are a quintessential part of afternoon tea. To make scones, you will need dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and grated frozen butter, as well as wet ingredients such as heavy cream, buttermilk, or milk.
Start by mixing the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Cut in the grated frozen butter using a pastry cutter, two forks, or your hands until the mixture resembles crumbs. Avoid overworking the dough to prevent dense scones.
Next, whisk the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl, and then combine them with the dry ingredients until a dough forms. Form the dough into a disc and cut it into wedges or drop scones. Brush the scones with heavy cream or buttermilk for a golden, crispy exterior.
Chill the scones in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before baking to prevent over-spreading. Bake the scones until they are golden brown, and then serve them warm with butter, jam, clotted cream, or even vanilla icing for a sweet treat.
Earl Grey Tea
To accompany the cucumber sandwiches and scones, brewing a pot of Earl Grey tea is the perfect choice. Earl Grey tea has a distinctive flavour and aroma, often made with black tea infused with bergamot orange oil or essence.
While Queen Elizabeth II drinks her Earl Grey tea without any added sugar or milk, you can adjust the sweetness and creaminess to your preference. Enjoy the tea alongside your homemade cucumber sandwiches and scones for a delightful afternoon tea experience fit for royalty.
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Frequently asked questions
The Queen kept her breakfast simple, often eating a bowl of Special K with assorted fruits. On special occasions, she would treat herself to some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.
The Queen's lunch usually consisted of grilled fish or chicken with vegetables and salad. She avoided starch at lunch.
The Queen's dinner was similar to her lunch, consisting of simple cooked meat and vegetables. She also enjoyed a good Sunday roast.
Queen Elizabeth was a big fan of afternoon tea, which included cucumber sandwiches, fruit cake, and Earl Grey tea. She also enjoyed chocolate biscuit cake and ginger cake.
The Queen was known to enjoy a gin and Dubonnet cocktail before lunch. She also enjoyed a glass of German sweet wine with dinner and a glass of champagne after dinner.
