Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch of the UK, is turning 92 years old this year. While a lot has changed in the world during her reign, her food preferences have not changed much, according to her formal Royal Chef. Twice a week, the Queen receives a list of menu suggestions and she marks the suggestions she likes.Â
While her status undoubtedly gives her unparalleled access to the best doctors, chefs, and ingredients, she’s also known to have a surprisingly simple approach to food and nutrition. Here’s what you can learn from Her Majesty’s healthy eating habits.
A Cup of Tea
Breakfast with cereal and toast
The queen starts her day with a cup of Earl Grey tea (no milk or sugar) in bone china with a few biscuits (aka cookies), according to British Telecommunications
3. A glass of gin before lunch
The Queen’s typical breakfast includes fruit and cereal. She sometimes treats herself with toast with jam or marmalade and, on very special occasions, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and some truffles. According to her former chef, she only enjoyed fresh truffles around Christmas when they were sent as a gift.
Apparently, Her Majesty likes having a cocktail before lunch: gin and Dubonnet with plenty of ice and a slice of lemon. The recipe for this cocktail can be found online
Her Majesty likes to keep it simple for her midday meal with something like fish with vegetables or grilled chicken with salad. McGrady said a favorite meal of hers is grilled Dover sole with wilted spinach or courgettes (that’s zucchini to those of us on the other side of the pond). No potatoes, rice, pasta — anything starchy — when she’s eating alone.
Afternoon tea often comes with a honey and cream sponge cake, as well as chocolate biscuit cake, which Her Majesty adores. According to the former chef, McGrady, two types of sandwiches are obligatory at High Tea, such as cucumber, smoked salmon, and egg with mayonnaise or ham and mustard with no crusts. Additionally, the Queen enjoys jam pennies – buttered bread with jam cut into small penny-sized circles.
Dinner
Dinner can sometimes be indulgent for Queen Elizabeth
Whether or not Queen Elizabeth has people over for dinner, there are the random occasions when the royal monarch chooses to truly indulge at the end of the day. After all, being a queen must be exhausting, and who wouldn’t want to wind down from a long day of royal duties with an extravagant meal?
She may have a dry Martini with dinner, but never wine — that’s for later.