The reason why the Queen ‘never really liked’ Buckingham Palace and was always ‘whizzing off’ to Windsor

The reason why the Queen reportedly “never really liked” Buckingham Palace and was always “whizzing off” to Windsor Castle has been revealed by a former royal chef. 

• Her Majesty might have many royal residences she can enjoy time at but reports have claimed she’s made Windsor Castle her permanent home.  
• Now former royal chef Darren McGrady has alleged that the monarch never felt quite as much at home at Buckingham Palace and “loves” Windsor.
• This royal news comes as the Queen was ‘sharp as a tack’ as she made a wicked joke about a Scottish gift upgrade at the Reddendo parade.   

Over the past few years the Queen has spent more time than ever at her Berkshire home rather than her official London residence. It was at Windsor Castle that she and the late Prince Philip spent much of the Covid-19 pandemic and where he was later laid to rest. Earlier this year sources claimed that the Queen was leaving Buckingham Palace for good and making Windsor her permanent home. And although Her Majesty hasn’t confirmed this herself, she has enjoyed plenty of time there in recent months. 

She has continued to receive official visitors there for audiences and the Queen beamed as she attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Now former royal chef Darren McGrady has discussed her supposed permanent move from Buckingham Palace, and expressed his belief to Coffee Friend that it came as “no surprise” to him for a simple reason. 

Darren, who once worked as a chef to both Her Majesty as well as to the late Princess Diana and the Queen’s grandchildren, Prince William and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace, suggested that the Queen “never really liked” her London home. 

Asked what he makes of the reports that the Queen has moved permanently, he responded, “It’s no surprise the Queen has moved to Windsor, she’s never really liked the palace.”

Elaborating further, the former royal chef claimed that the reason for this lies in the way Buckingham Palace is the administrative headquarters for the British monarch. 

“[I]t’s always been the office to the Queen”, he said, before alleging that. “The Queen would always be whizzing off back to Windsor Castle, she can’t wait to get back there. She loves it there, so it’s no surprise she’s moved there permanently.”

Comparing his experience of working at both royal palaces, Darren suggested that Windsor Castle is far more “relaxed” and that this is carried through to Her Majesty’s daily life there.

“There’s two kitchens there, the main kitchen and the small kitchen and the small kitchen is just small enough to take care of the Queen and one of two guests,” he said. “There’d always be a senior chef, a junior chef and about 30 staff that would go to Windsor for the weekend. We worked in the small kitchen, it’s much different, much more relaxed.”

The Queen’s former royal chef reflected on her passion for animals as he continued, “The Queen can go out, walk the dogs, go out and see the horses in the back garden. For the Queen, it’s always been dogs and horses first.”

“That’s her passion, that’s her hobbies. And why shouldn’t she at 96 enjoy that,” he said. “Let Charles and William take on some of the other engagements, she should just be spending time with the horses and the dogs every day now. Her family are all close by too in Windsor.”

Within only a short distance of her historic Berkshire home, which is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, are several of the Queen’s children. 

Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, live at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate. Whilst Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex live at Bagshot Park in Surrey relatively nearby. 

And in recent months rumors have circulated that Prince William and Kate Middleton could move to Windsor from London. This follows earlier speculation that they could have been eyeing up Adelaide Cottage in Windsor as a potential housing option. 

Meanwhile, the reports have recently claimed that the Queen was “riding her horse again” at Windsor. If correct, this suggests that she’s continuing to enjoy her “passion” and “spending time with the horses”. Currently at her official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Her Majesty is expected by many to return to Berkshire as Holyrood Week 2022 draws to an end.