Home ahoho 👑 THE ROYAL FAMILY’S DINING RULES ARE FAR STRICTER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALISE — EVEN SOME EVERYDAY FOODS CAN BE OFF THE MENU Behind palace doors, royal meals are not simply about personal taste. Years of public engagements, formal dinners and carefully managed appearances have helped shape a surprisingly strict set of food habits — with certain ingredients avoided, some dishes treated with caution and even familiar staples sometimes disappearing from the table altogether. Queen Camilla has previously confirmed one particularly unexpected “no-no,” but it is far from the only food rule the royals are known to follow.

👑 THE ROYAL FAMILY’S DINING RULES ARE FAR STRICTER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALISE — EVEN SOME EVERYDAY FOODS CAN BE OFF THE MENU Behind palace doors, royal meals are not simply about personal taste. Years of public engagements, formal dinners and carefully managed appearances have helped shape a surprisingly strict set of food habits — with certain ingredients avoided, some dishes treated with caution and even familiar staples sometimes disappearing from the table altogether. Queen Camilla has previously confirmed one particularly unexpected “no-no,” but it is far from the only food rule the royals are known to follow.

ahoho · 17/09/2026 · comments off

Foods that are firmly banned from the royal family’s daily menu

King Charles and Prince William have sampled dozens of cuisines during their royal travels, but when they’re at home, here’s the foods that they always avoid

King Charles in a brown coat, tasting cheese in a factory setting.© Getty Images

With world-class palace chefs at their service and exotic dishes on offer during royal tours, you’d imagine dining like a royal would be a dream come true. But there are a few foods the Royal Family tends to avoid – from fine delicacies to surprising household staples.

Whether it’s to avoid bad breath during a handshake line, dodge potential food poisoning, or simply stick to long-standing royal preferences, there are a few surprising items that King Charles, Princess Kate, Princess Anne and more always steer clear of. Wondering what doesn’t make the royals’ dinner plates?

Read on…

Seafood platter with oysters, prawns and crab in a restaurant© Getty Images

Shellfish carry a higher risk of food poisoning

Shellfish

Former royal butler and etiquette expert Grant Harold previously told the Daily Express: “When dining, the Royal Family has to be careful with shellfish due to shellfish poisoning. You will not normally find this on the royal menu.”

He added: “We don’t want a member of the Royal family having a serious reaction to food poisoning, especially if they’re on an overseas tour.”

Shellfish, including prawns and crab, carry a higher risk of food poisoning, as they’re often eaten uncooked and can accumulate bacteria from their surrounding water. So to mitigate risk, you won’t find the royals tucking into some Whitstable oysters.

Garlic has many health benefits for everything from brain health to immunity© Getty Images

Delicious in meals, infamous for bad breath

Garlic

Notorious for causing bad breath, garlic is firmly off the menu for the Royal Family – confirmed by Queen Camilla herself.

During an appearance on MasterChef Australia in 2018, she was asked about prohibited Royal foods, to which she responded: “I hate to say this, but garlic. Garlic is a no-no.” Given the royals’ packed schedule of public engagements, it’s easy to see why they steer clear of this one!

Foie Gras with fruits French Food© Getty Images

Foie gras is forbidden at royal residences

Foie gras

While this French delicacy is often considered a hallmark of luxury dining, it has been firmly off the royal menu for years. King Charles has long forbidden the dish from being served at royal residences, including Buckingham Palace.

In an open letter to animal rights activists in 2008, he made his stance clear, stating: “I just wanted to reassure you that The Prince of Wales has a policy that his chefs should not buy foie gras.”

Woman adding sugar to hot drink© Getty Images

King Charles takes honey in his tea instead of sugar

Sugar (in tea)

While we’re all very particular about how we take our cuppa, there’s one teatime classic that’s notably absent in many of the royal households: sugar. Grant Harrold, King Charles’ personal butler at Highgrove from 2004 to 2011, revealed that he had never seen anyone in the Royal Family choose to have sugar in their tea, despite being offered so.

Preferring to stay away from artificial sweeteners, King Charles is known for adding honey to his tea, which is fitting, seeing as he’s known for having many beehives at his Highgrove House home in Tetbury and has supported numerous community beekeeping programmes.

Stack of chocolate bars© Getty Images

While Queen Elizabeth loved chocolate, King Charles is not a fan

Chocolate

Keeping with the theme of avoiding processed sugars, King Charles is also reportedly not a fan of chocolate – unlike his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who reportedly had a big sweet tooth.

“Charles goes more for the fruit options,” former royal chef Darren McGrady explained. “He would much rather have an orange, olive oil tea cake, or banana bread.” Sounds delicious – can we pop by for a slice?

Young women cutting medium roasted beef steak on the wooden board© Getty Images

Rare meat can also carry a greater risk of food poisoning

Rare meats

Similarly to shellfish, the royals will avoid raw and rare meats that could be harbingers of bacteria and cause food poisoning.

Darren McGrady also revealed that Princess Diana never ate red meat, aside from lamb, when she was entertaining. So while the royals have their own preferences for how they eat their meat, you’re unlikely to find steak tartare on the menu.

Baked goods and Pasta Still Life. © Getty Images

Starchy carbs can sometimes spike blood sugar and trigger energy crashes

Starchy carbs

When dining alone, the late Queen Elizabeth II preferred to abstain from starchy carbs like pasta, bread, and potatoes, electing to eat grilled fish or chicken with vegetables on the side.

While good in moderation, these heavier foods were notably absent from her midday meals, helping to maintain energy levels – especially during long days of royal duties.

Spicy goat curry at The Onion Tree restaurant in Sea Cliff, New York on August 5, 2021© Newsday via Getty Images

Spicy food

The British royals typically steer clear of very spicy or “hot” cuisine, particularly during official tours and engagements. This is in order to prevent any digestive issues, allergic reactions, or even unnecessary sweating.

This isn’t to say that the royal family doesn’t enjoy spicy dishes within the comfort of their own home. The Princess of Wales in particular is a big fan of curries with a kick, but has to dial down the heat for the sake of her husband.

“It’s so hard cooking curry with the family though. The children have a portion with no spice, yours is medium,” she said to William. “And I quite like it hot.” She added: “Charlotte is pretty good with heat.”

Pouring a glass of water from a kitchen faucet in Santa Ana on Friday, April 26, 2024© MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Tap water

The royals avoid drinking tap water while travelling abroad for fear of getting sick. They reportedly only drink British bottled water during their foreign engagements.

Their brand of choice is Hildon Natural Mineral Water, which has even been granted a Royal Warrant.

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