Queen Camilla's son, Tom Parker Bowles, shared some of the culinary customs and rules that come with royal dining – including foods banned by the late Queen Elizabeth II
Tom Parker Bowles gave a glimpse into the foodie favourites of the royals in a recent Daily Mail article. He shared some of the traditions and rules surrounding the Royal Family's state banquets, which he described as "glittering and gilded" events.
State banquets, held up to three times a year at either Windsor's St George's Hall or Buckingham Palace's grand ballroom, are more than just meals, according to Tom, the son of Queen Camilla. He said: "This is not mere eating, rather a brilliantly choreographed ballet, 'souffle' diplomacy at its finest, as kings and queens, princes, potentates and presidents sit down to revel in the eternal power of the shared table.
The menus, still written in French, need the King and Queen's approval. Tom then opened up over the late Queen Elizabeth II, who sadly died in 2022, revealing: "The late Queen, like the King, was a stickler for detail." While researching for his latest book, Tom had a chat with Royal Chef Mark Flanagan and found out that the Queen personally influences royal menus, saying: "Her Majesty always designed the menus for her guests, rather than herself.
However, there were three foods that never made it onto the royal banquet menus. He shared: "Spicy food is not an option, nor shellfish , or dishes laden with garlic. Seasonality is ever important and ingredients are gathered, where possible, from the royal estates. Times may have changed, and appetites diminished. But one thing is eternally true. No one ever leaves the royal table hungry.
He also highlighted the importance of fresh seasonal ingredients in royal cooking, adding: "With the exception of state banquets and official dinners, the King and Queen eat simple, healthy and resolutely seasonal food, whether they're at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham or Balmoral. Their chefs, under the expert control of Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, travel with them. The King and Queen really know their food.
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