When Is Dinnertime For The Royal Family?

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The British Royal Family has strict rules and traditions when eating in public, including the food they are not allowed to eat with. The Queen has four meals a day, but only eats small portions at each. In a series of YouTube Q and A videos, former royal chef Darren McGrady claims that during his time as her personal chef between 1982 and 1993, the royal children cannot eat with the food.

The Queen’s day starts at 7:30 a. m., when tea and biscuits are brought to her bedroom. A maid will carry a tray with two dishes. Some sources suggest that she prefers a relaxed meal of lamb, roast beef, mutton, grouse or salmon most evenings, while others say she enjoys a Sunday roast after church or Gaelic steak. Lunch and dinner would be 10 to 12 courses in Queen Victoria’s time.

The Royal Family gathers at Sandringham in Norfolk every year for the holidays. Between church, a gift exchange, and Christmas dinner, one could say they spend the entire holiday season in their pajamas. The royals have a black tie dinner every year on Christmas Eve, so guests should consume lighter fare. If she goes all in on lunch, she is usually “peckish” around dinner time. She named soup as a usual option for later in the day.

If you wish to dine like the aristocracy, you should consume your evening meal between 8pm and 9pm. Any earlier or later than this hour is considered inappropriate. The Queen reportedly has four meals a day, but only eats small portions at each. Breakfast is between 7:00 and 9:00, dinner (the main meal) between 12:00 and 1:30 p. m., and tea from 5:30 at night to 6:30 p. m. Plate and Place have gone behind royal doors to uncover the food the British royal family truly love to eat.

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“18 Things You Never Knew About the Royal Family’s …“Dinner was at 8:30 in Balmoral when Her Majesty the Queen Mother was in attendance. They used to tell her that dinner was at 8:15, and she’d be the last one …theroyalchef.com

📹 Here’s What Queen Elizabeth Typically Eats In A Day

Queen Elizabeth II has been a subject of fascination for almost a century, both for her public deeds as the Queen of the United …


How Many Meals Does The Queen Eat A Day
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How Many Meals Does The Queen Eat A Day?

Queen Elizabeth II's daily diet consisted of four meals, each in small portions, as revealed by her former personal chef, Darren McGrady. She maintained a routine from breakfast to dinner, embracing simple and healthy choices, highlighting her love for traditional British and French cuisine. Her day typically started at 7:30 a. m. with tea and biscuits, followed by breakfast in her private dining room—a bowl of Special K with assorted fruits was a favorite.

Lunch and afternoon tea, which included salmon or cucumber sandwiches with crusts cut off, would then follow. Dinner took place in her private quarters, where she dined from a silver tray, enjoying seasonal fruits and vegetables, often sourced from the royal estate. McGrady mentioned that the Queen preferred light meals that didn't weigh her down but instead kept her energetic throughout the day. She meticulously planned her meals, with the head chef presenting options for her approval twice a week.

Despite her health challenges, Queen Elizabeth maintained a regimented diet, filled with healthful dishes, blending both simplicity and elegance. The Queen's adherence to her meal structure and her love for Earl Grey tea reflect her commitment to a balanced lifestyle, a hallmark of her reign until her passing at age 96 in 2022.

What Are The Royal Family'S Christmas Traditions
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What Are The Royal Family'S Christmas Traditions?

The British royal family has their own distinct Christmas traditions, which have been passed down through generations. From Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis opening gifts before their cousins to King Charles having the authority to confiscate toys, the family's holiday customs are unique. Last year marked the first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth II, following her passing in September. The royals traditionally celebrate at Sandringham House, where they engage in various activities leading up to the holiday.

Many practices, such as attending church on Christmas morning and broadcasting a message to the nation, will continue under King Charles's reign. The royal family exchanges gifts on Christmas Eve, a tradition introduced by Prince Albert, and hosts a luncheon for extended family members. Despite facing significant changes, including family tragedies and relocations, they maintain a festive spirit through games, elegant dinners, and gift-giving for household staff.

Do Royals Eat Together On Christmas Morning
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do Royals Eat Together On Christmas Morning?

On Christmas morning, the British royal family adheres to a tradition of separate dining before reuniting for church. According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, senior royals like the Queen have breakfast in the main dining room, while the younger princes and princesses are cared for by nannies in the nursery at a separate table. Notably, Prince William and Kate Middleton also follow this custom, enjoying their meals in separate areas before attending an 11 a.

m. mass at St. Mary Magdalene Church. After church, the family gathers for pre-lunch drinks. The royals maintain a consistent festive menu, reflecting long-standing traditions surrounding their Christmas meals. While they adhere to classic Christmas fare, the practice of separating the children from the adults occurs not only on this holiday but also during other major events throughout the year. Tindall revealed that royal children do not share a table with their parents at any significant gathering.

As they enjoy their Christmas Eve festivities, including martinis, the royals aim to keep traditions intact while embracing a somewhat unconventional approach to dining and celebration during the season. Ultimately, the royal family's Christmas routine remains a blend of longstanding customs and unique practices.


📹 13 Meals The Royals Loved To Eat

Everybody’s got to eat, even the royals. Given that they essentially have their pick of any food in the world, what do they choose?


Freya Gardon

Hi, I’m Freya Gardon, a Collaborative Family Lawyer with nearly a decade of experience at the Brisbane Family Law Centre. Over the years, I’ve embraced diverse roles—from lawyer and content writer to automation bot builder and legal product developer—all while maintaining a fresh and empathetic approach to family law. Currently in my final year of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, I’m excited to blend these skills to assist clients in innovative ways. I’m passionate about working with a team that thinks differently, and I bring that same creativity and sincerity to my blog about family law.

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23 comments

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  • I’m English and 53 years old the Queen is the only monarch I’ve known, her diet is very well balanced just ask any dietitian, I dread the day she joins Phillip and passes away can you imagine the amount of people around the UK and the World who would mourn her passing she’s been like the head of state for the world just look at size of the Commonwealth . Long Live Queen Elizabeth 2nd

  • The avoidance of garlic makes sense for a couple of reasons. One, the Queen just simply might not like the taste or texture of it, which is common because it can be overpowering. Also, think of all the people she and the other royals have to meet and speak to on a daily basis. The last thing they’d want or need is to have garlic breath. I’m guessing those reasons are why onions are to be used in strict moderation too.

  • I recently followed her daily routine, woke up at 7 : 30 and drink Earl Grey tea with biscuits. It was soooo relaxing. I want to follow Princess Margaret daily routine, which is having breakfast in bed and smoke a lot of cigarettes, they said it’s so glamorous. But i didn’t see how it was considered glamorous tho?

  • Lanson, Bollinger, Krug.The secret of eternal youth!The queen is right.A glass of champagne every day is excellent.I do the same thing.Her Prime Minister Churchill loved Pol Roger.And me too.Very good choices, without forgetting Roederer, Ruinart, Deutz, Taittinger, Besserat de Bellefon, De Venoge…!

  • RIP in peace HRH Queen Elizabeth 11,💐.A disciplined gracious lady of substance and class, a great role model whose shoes would be very hard to fill, condolences to her loved ones and the citizens of UK and the citizens of the Commonwealth and people around the world who also loved and admired her greatly.

  • Lanson is amazing champagne. I had attended a wine taste earlier in the day before heading for an art exhibit in the evening. I was ill from crappy champagne being shopped at the tasting and thought I`d pass on refreshment that night. But for some reason I decided to try a glass as they were serving Lanson. My G-d, what champagne! Dry, refreshing. Doesn`t back up so no inebriation or hangover. If I ever win the Pools, it`s a bottle once a week. Oh yes! The Queen knows how to live. In moderation but moderated by the right variables.

  • I understand the garlic, the smell not only comes through the breath, but through the pores of the skin, and is quite potent and vile. As good as they are for the body, and as good as they taste in so many foods and dishes the world over, garlic and onions are rather difficult to avoid. So many ethnic dishes feature them as the profiling flavors and depend on their presence to make them what they are. That is quite a work around for the chefs who worked for her!

  • Special K and eggs sound simple but sole & salmon isn’t on most people’s menu. To say she eschews carbs is a fallacy given the cereals, biscuits & sandwiches she eats daily. It’s probably only because they have a light dinner as the last meal of the day. Most of Europe does this. Heavy lunch & light dinner. 👍

  • I met the queen when I was younger. She taught me how to be myself. She was amazing, I couldn’t believe it when I heard the terrible news. Here I am today 13 years old living my life going through the terribleness times of my time because of the disaster the queen has made. She will always be missed. I love you Elizabeth III.

  • Whole grain steel cut oatmeals, with a bit of blueberry, blackberry, apple slices, almonds, walnuts, pecans with chia, flax seeds adn plain greek probitoic youghurt all mixed together My breakfast every day 365 days a year. Beats Special K cereals or horrendous American orange juice bacon and toast. Dinner is similar though, Wild alaskan sockeye salmon salad, with a plate of nutrient dense vegetable salad (spinach, brocolli, carrots…) and a bit of quinoa on the side.

  • This shouldn’t be surprising. She’s not her great great grandmother Victoria who liked to pig out on everything in sight (which is why she was the size of a house). However, I DID read somewhere that for lunch she also likes a nice plain broiled breast of chicken. And they forgot to say she DEFINITELY enjoys tea time in the late afternoon with some sconces or other light treats with her tea. But all the calories come from those cream sauces. VERY rich and high in both fat and calories. And that narrator proves once again the ignorance of people. I don’t take garlic in anything myself due to bad stomach and GI issues. There are PLENTY of other ways to spice ones food other than garlic. I do think its cute that she likes her 2 or 3 drinks a day though. Her mother liked her nip too only she drank a LOT more. Gin & Dubonnet before lunch, wine with lunch, martini’s at cocktail time and champagne with dinner. But she must have been doing SOMETHING right! The old gal DID live to be 102!

  • This has nothing to do with what the queen eats. It doesn’t matter what harry said or didn’t say Harry and Meghan Liv in the us now and in this country we have a little thing in the us called Freedom of Speech. And it doesn’t really matter what what the queen says or doesn’t say about or too Harry and Meghan. The thing I don’t like how the British Press is so mean to Megan. To me that ante right!

  • Umm longest ruling monarch in England?? SHES THE LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH IN HISTORY!! If ur gonna make a article about a specific person let alone the most famous/well known woman on earth. U might wanna google it first.. get some basic information as THATS what these articles are supposed to be about aren’t they ?? Educating and teaching and sharing information?? Another page spoke about indigenous australian cave paintings .. which had been there… ” Many many ..many” years… If ur gonna be a reporter of information. DO SOME RESEARCH !! please 🙏

  • Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles and madness in this world today, God is full of justice, mercy and love. Justice said we broke His perfect law – causing the world’s previous perfection to be destroyed – and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don’t think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing – regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others – which is murder in God’s perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says “the soul that sins shall die” – if we break one in thought/word/deed it’s as if we’re guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans . The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God’s perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn’t and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom. If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life.

  • Nothing typical about her; if she farts, roses bloom on the green grassy hills of Wales, if she takes a dump, an Englishman pens an ode, If she burps, somebody in the Guard’s Regiment is wakened to be told to go on watch. When this woman dies, Chuck is gonna grab his socks, rub his face, and say: “oh mum, did you really have to pass so soon (and she is pushing a hundred)”? She is the best darn Queen any country ever had, in her passing the world will shudder… nope she doesn’t eat anything typical… even if it is typical.. she is the Queen! People get pains in their bowels when that woman sneers at them. We are at the end of a great age that she ruled over… things are about to change… beware. Elizabeth II 1952-202???? Time marches on.

  • Why on Earth would ANYONE want mimosas or French toast for breakfast, let alone the Queen? 99.9% of eggs bought in Britain are brown, unlike in the US where you have white. I remember eggs in the 1960s being white here, but they changed to selling brown for some reason, they are certainly no healthier than the white eggs.

  • The queen and the royals enjoy this extravagant luxury by exploiting the resources and human beings in the British colonies. While children of hard working colonial subjects are starving to death, the queen and her family as well as the British people are enjoying a shamelessly luxurious life. God save the British queen!

  • Oh dear! I get very tiref of pointing out to US media types (and US nationals) that she is not ‘Queen of England. She is the monarch of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises FOUR countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Would you be OK with.the US president being spoken of internationally as The President

  • “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. Through the power of the words He hath uttered the whole of the human race can be illumined with the light of unity, and the remembrance of His Name is able to set on fire the hearts of all men, and burn away the veils that intervene between them and His glory. One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and vanished….Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be righteous, be righteous….. These hosts are such righteous deeds, such conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight.” \t(Baha’u’llah (the promised one of all ages), Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 286) “O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee, and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation. Great is the Day, and mighty the Call! In one of Our Tablets We have revealed these exalted words: ‘Were the world of the spirit to be wholly converted into the sense of hearing, it could then claim to be worthy to hearken unto the Voice that calleth from the Supreme Horizon; for otherwise, these ears that are defiled with lying tales have never been, nor are they now, fit to hear it.

  • Bonsoir, génial Altesse Royale je vous prie d’agréer Altesse Royale l’expression de ma plus haute considération distinguée et respectueuse avec les honneurs militaires de notre patrimoine familial en hautes Alpes françaises homme de paix longue vie à la reine Elizabeth 2 votre dévoué Serviteur Corse famille respective FRANCESCHINI J N dans un petit village situé au cœur du massif des écrins barronie provençal FRANCE 05 que sainte Marie vous protège richement cordiales pensées Année 2021 🇨🇵🇨🇰💖🙏🏅🥈🥇🥉👍

  • good morning my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis with members of the British Royal Family up up with peace and solidarity God save my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis up up I call at free body want to help come join to my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis very soon ok🙏🙏💐⛱️

  • good afternoon my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis with members of the British Royal Family up up with peace and solidarity God save my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis up up I call at free body want to help come join to my best mum the Queen Elizabeth prince Corgis up up at very soon 🙏🙏💐⛱️

  • So you see I was trying too protect queen Elizabeth by having Mr narrator too use his super powers too delete things like things like trying kill so you see my wish was too have people never ever too you know so that people will never attack queen Elizabeth and things and things would you give queen Elizabeth tho Mr narrator would you give queen Elizabeth would you give queen Elizabeth queen Elizabeth things and things other things and things Mr narrators narrators narrators

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