William and Kate's unusual dinner rule with their kids, ex-royal chef explains

24 November 2023 , 23:06

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William and Kate don't allow their children to eat with them during official dinners and holidays (Image: Kensington Palace via Getty Images)

A former royal chef has revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales do not allow their three children to eat with them during official dinners and holidays.

Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, often have to sit separately from their parents at dinnertime, revealed a long-time royal chef. Darren McGrady explained that the youngsters "aren't allowed to sit with the adults until they have learned the art of polite conversation."

He said there were never any exceptions, including for large holidays such as Christmas. Now a YouTube star with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, McGrady spent around 15 years working for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Prince Harry.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are known to have strict rules around meal times (AFP via Getty Images)

"The children always ate in the nursery until they were old enough to conduct themselves properly at the dining table," he told Harper's Bazaar. Mr McGrady also said the children's nannies were given the task to "educate" their palates too.

He said: "Nanny always had control of the menu and made sure they ate balanced meals that included not only lots of healthy vegetables but introduced them to new grown-up dishes too." But he also spoke about his memories of Princess Diana and the way she brought up her two sons.

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He said that getting Prince William and Prince William to eat their vegetables was tricky - and they were often bribed into eating veggies during royal meal times, or eating them while hidden in their favourite foods. Mr McGrady said that Diana wanted Harry and William to experience some normality growing up - so she would often take them out to McDonald's.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour in June (AFP via Getty Images)

While the boys loved their regular trips to grab a Big Mac, the Kensington Palace chef was a bit shocked. Recalling the day, Mr McGrady said he offered to make them burgers at home, but Diana was not having any of it - and explained the real reason they wanted to go.

Speaking to Marie Claire, he said: "I remember the Princess came into the kitchen one day and said, 'Cancel lunch for the boys I'm taking them out, we're going to McDonald's. And I said, 'Oh my god your royal highness, I can do that, I can do burgers.'

"And she said, 'No, it's the toy they want.' Yeah, the boys loved McDonald's, and going out to pizza, and having potato skins - sort of the American foods. They were royal princes but had children's palates."

Chiara Fiorillo