Theres something to be said for living like a king or a queen. You have your many palaces and your killer outfits (whether they’re green screen or not). Oh, and the swans that come with the job. Who wouldnt want to live a life like that? Well, that was the reality for the U. K. s Queen Elizabeth, and it remains the reality for her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. All royals have it good, of course, but these people obviously have it best.
The diet of the British royal family has long fascinated the public. With rigid traditions governing their behavior, it’s natural to wonder if their food choices are similarly regulated. One question that often pops up is whether Queen Elizabeth II and her kin eat pork. Does royal protocol dictate avoiding pig meat, or are pork chops served up in the palace? Let’s examine the evidence.
A Brief History of Royal Food Restrictions
The royals have maintained certain dietary restrictions for centuries. In medieval times, garlic and onions were considered uncouth foods for the upper classes. Royals took care to avoid them, particularly when making public appearances. They wanted to avoid garlic breath while greeting subjects!
This tradition persisted into the 1900s. When our current Queen was still a princess, staff were instructed not to serve dishes with too much garlic or onion, lest the royal family have bad breath.
So what motivates these limitations on the royal menu? A few factors seem to be at play
- Avoiding strong flavors or foods that cause bad breath
- Preferring lighter, plainer dishes over rich fare
- Staying healthy for their busy schedules of public duties
With this background in mind let’s look at whether pork makes the royal cut.
Does Queen Elizabeth Eat Pork?
Back in the old days, pork was considered unclean meat, unfit for a royal table But today? Pork features regularly on the menu when the Queen and her family dine in private
Some of Elizabeth’s favored pork dishes include:
- Bacon – She enjoys it as part of a full English breakfast.
- Sausages
- Roast pork with crispy crackling
- Gammon steak
The monarch also likes ham sandwiches for afternoon tea. And when staying at royal estates like Sandringham or Balmoral, smoked Scottish salmon with gammon is a fixture on the menu.
So while royals historically avoided pork, today Elizabeth and her family happily indulge in some bacon and other pig dishes – but only in private.
Other Foods the Queen Avoids
Though garlic, onion and pork are no longer totally taboo, Queen Elizabeth does still spurn certain foods:
- Shellfish – To minimize food poisoning risk, she avoids mussels, clams, oysters and crab.
- Rare meat – Well-done is preferred to avoid potential illness.
- Tap water – When traveling she drinks only bottled water to sidestep unfamiliar bacteria.
- Starchy carbs – Elizabeth seems to eschew pasta, rice and potatoes to stay slim.
What Does the Wider Royal Family Eat?
Beyond the Queen, do other British royals also enjoy pork nowadays? They certainly do! Here are a few examples:
- Prince William loves sushi, so he likely eats pork in dishes like gyoza.
- Prince Charles has been known to sample shellfish, which the Queen avoids.
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose pork belly on the menu for their wedding reception.
So it seems most adult royals follow the Queen’s lead in making their own dietary choices. The Queen’s guidance to avoid certain foods for health is considered, but not obligatory.
The Royal Diet: Tradition Meets Practicality
In summation, the royal family’s diet is no longer bound by the taboos of yesteryear. Traditions have loosened over time. The Queen and her relatives feel free to appreciate dishes like roast pork in private. Yet Elizabeth also upholds certain restrictions to remain in peak form for her royal role.
For today’s royals, their diet balances tradition with practical considerations. And of course the occasional indulgence, like the Queen’s beloved chocolate biscuit cake, shows they also make room for cherished treats! Overall, the royal diet meets history and good health with a dash of personal preference.
Frequency of Entities:
Queen Elizabeth II: 9
pork: 15
royal family: 7
garlic: 3
onion: 2
shellfish: 2
rare meat: 2
tap water: 1
starchy carbs: 1
Prince William: 1
Prince Charles: 1
Prince Harry: 1
Meghan Markle: 1
Royals can’t drink tap water
They say you shouldnt drink the tap water when you travel abroad, and it seems that the royals have taken that old adage to heart — since theyre told to avoid drinking tap water so as to avoid any “potential hazards.”
Its true that, in certain countries, tap water can prove very dangerous indeed. The NHS recommends that visitors to countries with poor sanitation “use filtered, bottled, boiled or chemically treated water” rather than water from the tap. Contaminated water can contain bacteria and parasites from human or animal fecal matter, dangerous minerals such as lead or mercury, as well as chemicals from industrial waste. These can pose a particular risk to people with compromised immune systems. Some of the potential side-effects of drinking contaminated water include gastrointestinal disease (which can range from mild to fatal), kidney problems, and long-term issues with physical and mental development.
Naturally, then, the queen preferred to drink bottled water — and not just any old bottle of Evian, either; no, as with so many other foods and drinks, she usually enjoys one brand in particular. The queen and her household preferred to drink Hildon Natural Mineral Water, which comes from the Test Valley in the United Kingdom. According to their own website, Hildons unique flavor “is praised for its delicate purity and avoidance of medicinal taste.”
This stuff isnt cheap, though, and a 12-pack of 11-ounce bottles will set you back a staggering $60. Fancy.
Potatoes, pasta, and rice are only for special occasions
Considering Meghan Markles favorite home-cooked recipe is zucchini bolognese, she might be counting her lucky stars that she and Harry have absconded from their royal duties — since pasta (and other starchy foods) are off the menu for “working” royals.
According to Darren McGrady, the queen often avoided eating starchy foods such as potatoes, pasta, and rice, with the only exceptions being made on very special occasions. Although this rule likely doesnt apply to other royals when theyre off doing their own thing, meals at Buckingham Palace (or wherever the queen was staying) were a different story entirely. Its likely that the queens aversion to starchy foods came as a result of their high carb content — which, some have argued, can have an effect on peoples health. And the queen wasnt the only world leader to worry about this; in 2015, Pope Francis was told to lay off the pasta after he had begun to gain weight.
Of course, Markle has other plans. “When Im traveling, I wont miss an opportunity to try great pasta,” Markle once told Delish. “I come back from vacation every year with a food baby, and Ive named her Comida. I get to the set [of Suits] and Im like, Hey, Comidas here, and shes kicking. “.
There must be plenty of pasta meals being made at Markle and Prince Harrys California home, then.
Foods The Queen Forbids The Royal Family From Eating
FAQ
Does the British royal family eat pork?
What foods do the royals not eat?
Does King Charles eat pork?
What meat did Queen Elizabeth eat?
Do royals eat food?
Members of the royal family do eat food, but they avoid certain items such as garlic. This is either to prevent bad breath, food poisoning, or to follow Her Majesty’s preferences. Curious to know what other foods are never on the menu? Keep reading
Does the Queen eat raw meat?
According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, the Queen is reportedly not a fan of rare meat and prefers it well done. Royals, including the Queen, are prohibited from eating foods containing raw meat such as steak tartare when on official engagements to avoid food poisoning.
What food does Prince William eat?
Pasta, potatoes and rice are all off the menu, as well as shellfish, garlic, onions and rare meat. The Queen, Prince William, Prince Charles and more royal food secrets revealed by former chefs. Find out what happens in the royal palace kitchens
Can royals eat pasta?
Royals are prohibited from eating raw meat like steak tartare on official engagements to avoid food poisoning. It is mentioned that the monarch is not big on starchy carbs like pasta. This information, however, does not confirm or deny if other royals share the same preference.