Unearth The Voyage
The British Royal Family is often associated with grand banquets and elaborate formal dinners, but their everyday food choices might surprise you. From simple jam sandwiches to hearty roast chicken, royals enjoy many of the same comfort foods as the rest of us.
Some of their favorites have even made headlines at royal weddings and coronations. Read on to discover the surprisingly down-to-earth dishes that have earned a place on royal tables.
1. Chocolate Biscuit Cake
Few desserts have earned royal devotion quite like chocolate biscuit cake. Queen Elizabeth II was so fond of it that she reportedly requested a small slice every single day for afternoon tea, making it one of the most talked-about treats in Buckingham Palace history.
The cake is made by combining crushed digestive biscuits with a rich chocolate mixture, then chilling it until firm. No baking required, which makes it surprisingly easy to recreate at home.
Its satisfying crunch and dense chocolate flavor are hard to resist.
The cake also appeared at Prince William and Catherine’s wedding reception in 2011, cementing its status as a true royal favorite. If you want to taste something fit for a queen, this no-bake treat is a great place to start.
It pairs beautifully with a warm cup of tea.
2. Jam Sandwiches
Queen Elizabeth II had a well-known soft spot for what royal insiders affectionately called “jam pennies.” These were tiny, crustless sandwiches filled with jam, cut into small rounds, and served during afternoon tea. Simple, sweet, and utterly charming.
The tradition of jam sandwiches at tea time stretches back generations in British households. For the late Queen, they were a comfort food rooted in childhood memories, a reminder that even the grandest lives have room for simple pleasures.
What makes this even more delightful is that the love of jam sandwiches appears to run in the family. Prince Louis, Catherine and William’s youngest child, has reportedly inherited the same fondness for this humble treat.
It is a sweet reminder that royal children, like all kids, are drawn to the simple joy of something sticky, sweet, and satisfying between two slices of bread.
3. Roast Chicken
Prince William’s favorite meal is not a fancy French dish or an elaborate royal banquet centerpiece. It is a simple, perfectly roasted chicken, the kind of hearty Sunday dinner that feels like home no matter where you live.
Princess Catherine reportedly prepares roast chicken for the family at their home in Windsor, keeping mealtimes grounded and familiar for their three children. Cooking together as a family is something Catherine has spoken about warmly in various interviews over the years.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also expressed their fondness for roast chicken, making it something of an unofficial royal household staple. There is something genuinely comforting about knowing that one of the world’s most photographed families sits down to the same classic meal that fills kitchens across Britain every Sunday.
Roast chicken is proof that the best meals do not need to be complicated.
4. Curry
Curry has long held a special place in British food culture, and the Royal Family is no exception. King Charles has been an open admirer of curry dishes for decades, and his appreciation for bold, spiced flavors reflects a broader love of diverse cuisine.
Princess Catherine has also spoken candidly about enjoying spicy curries, noting that she sometimes craves heat and bold seasoning in her meals. It is a refreshingly relatable detail from someone who often appears in the most formal of settings.
Perhaps most interestingly, Sandringham Estate introduced an organic lamb curry made from livestock raised on the royal estate itself. The dish became a point of pride, blending sustainability with culinary tradition.
For King Charles, who has long championed organic farming and environmental responsibility, a curry made from estate-raised lamb is about as personally meaningful as a meal can get.
5. Hard-Boiled Eggs
King Charles takes his eggs seriously. For years, royal insiders and former palace staff have noted his particular preferences around breakfast, with hard-boiled eggs being a consistent fixture on his morning table.
It is a habit rooted in routine and a genuine appreciation for simple, wholesome food.
According to reports from former royal chefs, Charles would sometimes have eggs boiled at slightly different times to ensure the perfect consistency. Whether or not that level of detail is entirely accurate, it paints a picture of someone who genuinely cares about the quality of what he eats each day.
Eggs are a nutritious, protein-rich breakfast choice that fuels a busy schedule, and for a King who maintains an active lifestyle and manages demanding public duties, starting the day with something reliable and nourishing makes complete sense. Sometimes the most straightforward meals are the ones we return to again and again.
6. Fresh Berries
Seasonal eating has always been a priority for the Royal Family, and few things embody that philosophy better than a bowl of freshly picked British berries. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries grown on royal estates regularly appear in meals and desserts throughout the summer months.
Queen Elizabeth was known to enjoy berries grown at Balmoral and other royal properties, favoring fruit that was fresh, local, and in season. This preference reflects a broader commitment to quality ingredients that has carried through to the current generation of royals.
King Charles, a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and organic farming, has long encouraged the use of produce grown on his own estates. Serving fresh berries from the garden rather than importing out-of-season fruit is exactly the kind of choice that aligns with his environmental values.
Plus, British berries at peak ripeness genuinely taste extraordinary.
7. Grilled Fish with Vegetables
Queen Elizabeth was not one for heavy, overly rich lunches. According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, who worked at Buckingham Palace for over a decade, the Queen often preferred simple, well-prepared meals over elaborate spreads during her midday break.
Grilled fish served alongside spinach or other lightly cooked vegetables was a frequent lunch choice. It was clean, easy to digest, and allowed her to stay energized through a full afternoon of royal engagements, meetings, and correspondence without feeling weighed down.
This kind of mindful eating is something many nutrition experts recommend, and it is quietly inspiring to know that even at the highest levels of public life, simplicity often wins out. A piece of well-seasoned grilled fish with fresh greens is both elegant and practical, the kind of meal that feels refined without requiring much fuss in the kitchen.
8. Pizza
Queen Elizabeth reportedly never warmed up to pizza, but Prince William is a different story entirely. The Prince of Wales has spoken openly about enjoying pizza nights with his family, bringing a refreshingly casual energy to royal dining habits that many people find genuinely endearing.
Ordering pizza with your kids is one of those universal family experiences that cuts across social boundaries, and William has embraced it wholeheartedly. It is the kind of detail that reminds the public that behind the palace walls, family life looks a lot like everyone else’s.
Pizza nights have become something of an informal royal tradition in the Wales household, and it is easy to see why. Quick, customizable, and universally loved by children, pizza is the ultimate low-fuss family dinner.
Whether it is a homemade version or a delivery box, the appeal is the same: everyone gets exactly what they want.
9. Brownies
Prince William has made no secret of his love for brownies, and he has even been specific about his preferences. In conversations over the years, he has joked that he strongly prefers his brownies without nuts, a detail that has delighted fans who appreciate a royal with clear dessert opinions.
Brownies occupy a special place in the world of baked goods. They sit somewhere between a cake and a cookie, delivering a dense, fudgy richness that is hard to match with any other treat.
The best ones have a slightly crackly top and a gooey center that practically melts on contact.
William’s enthusiasm for brownies adds a playful, relatable dimension to his public image. It is a small but charming reminder that even future kings have their comfort foods and personal quirks.
If you ever bake for royalty, leave out the walnuts and you should be just fine.
10. Venison
Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands has long been the Royal Family’s summer retreat, and the estate’s deer population has historically provided venison for royal meals. Game meat like venison has appeared on royal menus for centuries, connecting modern dining traditions to a much older way of life on British estates.
Queen Elizabeth reportedly enjoyed venison as part of her dinner rotation, particularly during time spent at Balmoral. The meat is lean, flavorful, and deeply tied to the landscape of the Scottish countryside, making it a fitting choice for a monarch who loved her time in Scotland.
Venison is also gaining wider appreciation among food lovers today, valued for its rich, earthy flavor and lower fat content compared to beef. For the Royal Family, eating venison from their own estate is both a culinary tradition and a nod to the land stewardship they take seriously.
11. Coronation Quiche
When King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation was announced in 2023, the official celebration came with an official dish: Coronation Quiche. The recipe, featuring spinach, broad beans, and tarragon in a light pastry shell, was chosen to reflect Charles’s known love of egg-based dishes and seasonal British produce.
The dish was designed to be accessible and easy to recreate at home, encouraging people across the country to celebrate the coronation with their own garden parties and street celebrations. It was a thoughtful and democratic choice, one that invited everyone to participate.
Unlike the rich Coronation Chicken that debuted at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, the quiche felt distinctly modern and aligned with Charles’s values around sustainable, plant-forward eating. Whether served warm or at room temperature, Coronation Quiche quickly became a symbol of a new chapter in British royal history.
12. Scones with Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is one of Britain’s most beloved traditions, and for Queen Elizabeth II, it was a non-negotiable daily ritual. Scones with clotted cream and jam were a cornerstone of that experience, served alongside delicate sandwiches and a pot of Earl Grey or Darjeeling tea.
There is even a well-known debate about the correct order for applying cream and jam to a scone. The Cornish method calls for jam first, then cream.
The Devon method reverses the order. Queen Elizabeth reportedly favored the Cornish approach, though this remains a topic of friendly national debate across Britain.
For the Royal Family, afternoon tea is more than just a meal. It is a moment of pause, connection, and tradition in the middle of a demanding day.
Scones may seem simple, but they carry centuries of cultural meaning. Baking a batch at home is one of the easiest ways to feel a little royal yourself.
