British royal family - Chef finds her Christmas dinner "boring"
They have chefs and servants and could have the most exquisite dishes prepared for them. But the Royal Family seems to love Christmas traditionally and, like many other Britons, they eat the same thing for Christmas every year. A former chef at court even described the Christmas dinner of King Charles III (75), Prince William (41) and co. as "boring".
The royals love turkey with vegetable side dishes
While many people in Germany opt for sausages with potato salad or the more elaborate roast goose, turkeys are often served at Christmas in the UK. This is also the case for the country's most famous family, who spend Christmas in Sandringham. Darren McGrady (61) has now revealed this in "OK! magazine".
He was the personal chef to high-ranking royals for 15 years, catering for Princess Diana (1961-1997) and her sons William and Harry (39) from 1993 to 1997. He revealed that the feast of love is not particularly exciting in culinary terms: "It was the same food every year. They're actually boring at celebrations. There was no ham or anything, just traditional turkeys."
He continued: "We cooked three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the Royal Dining Room, one for the children and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas dinner." The royals loved the traditional turkey with various side dishes such as mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots and roasted parsnips. Cranberry sauce and a chestnut or sage and onion stuffing were also in demand.
According to McGrady, the royal heads treat themselves to a dessert after this "boring" main course. This consists of a Christmas pudding doused with brandy, which is brought into the dining room hot and "flaming". The Queen also opted for tried and tested drinks: a classic gin and Dubonnet cocktail and a glass of Gewürztraminer.
Charles' Christmas speech will also be watched
The main Christmas Day in the UK is December 25. At 11 a.m. local time, the royal family traditionally attends the service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, after which the members gather for lunch, which must be finished by 3 p.m. local time.
Because then BBC One is switched on - and the royals, like many other Britons, watch King Charles' Christmas speech. It is his second Christmas speech as King after last year's premiere. The ten-minute message, which usually looks back on the most important events of the year, is recorded in advance.
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- Despite having access to numerous gourmet dishes, King Charles III, Prince William, and the Royal Family prefer to stick to traditional Christmas dinners, which former chef Darren McGrady described as "boring".
- In Great Britain, turkey is often the main dish for Christmas dinner, a tradition that even extends to the British Royal Family, who spend Christmas at Sandringham.
- Darren McGrady, who served as personal chef to high-ranking royals for 15 years, revealed in an interview that the royal family's Christmas dinner was always the same, consisting of turkey and various side dishes.
- The Royal Family's Christmas dinner menu typically includes items like mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and roasted parsnips, with cranberry sauce and chestnut or sage and onion stuffing as popular choices.
- Darren McGrady also shared that, despite the "boring" main course, the royals do enjoy a sweet treat for dessert, such as a Christmas pudding doused with brandy and set alight.
- Queen Elizabeth also enjoys traditional drinks during Christmas, such as a classic gin and Dubonnet cocktail and a glass of Gewürztraminer.
- Following lunch, the main event on Christmas Day for the British Royal Family and many other Britons is watching King Charles III's annual Christmas speech on BBC One.
- Darren McGrady also noted that the royals, like many others, attend a church service in the morning before the Christmas Day festivities begin.
Source: www.stern.de
