Why the Queen has never revealed her favourite meal

Queen Elizabeth

Her Majesty the Queen usually has all her wishes met anywhere she goes, but turns out there’s a clever reason why she's never actually revealed what her favourite food is.

As the most senior member of the royal family, Queen Elizabeth II has travelled around the world and met numerous heads of state and other very important people.

Usually there will be food involved – from afternoon tea to an official banquet – and that is exactly why the Queen never reveals what her favourite food is.

The revelation comes from former royal correspondent Gordon Rayner, who covered more than 20 royals tours and says he discovered this fact from someone who worked with the royal family.

He explained to The Telegraph: ‘The Queen likes fish and poultry but has never divulged what her favourite meal is, because, as one of her staff told me, “If she said she had a favourite meal, she would never get served anything else.”’ Clever!

The journalist also revealed that it’s someone’s job to go on a ‘reconnaissance’ mission to assess if any tweaks are needed before the Queen eats there.

‘The Master of the Household department will be in the reconnaissance party to tell foreign chefs not to cook anything with garlic or too much spice for fear of giving the Queen bad breath, and not to cook shellfish or anything that could cause food poisoning’, he added.

But despite the fact that she doesn’t like revealing her favourite dish to anyone, we do know what her favourite sweet treat is thanks to former royal chef and author of Eating Royally Darren McGrady.

Speaking to baking website Recipes Plus, he said: ‘Now the chocolate biscuit cake is the only cake that goes back again and again and again every day until it's all gone.

‘She'll take a small slice every day until eventually there is only one tiny piece, but you have to send that up, she wants to finish the whole of that cake.’

Mariana Cerqueira

Mariana is the managing editor of woman&home. She has previously worked for lifestyle titles including GoodtoKnow covering all aspects of women’s lifestyle - from the Royal Family, beauty and fashion to wellness and travel. She was nominated for AOP Digital Journalist of the Year in 2020, and for New Digital Talent of the Year at the 2016 PPA Digital Awards. She’s mildly obsessed with TV (reality TV shows included) and spends far too much time planning her next trip away.