The surprising diet of the Queen of England

Perhaps the diet of the world's oldest monarch could serve as a model!

As the hit series, “The Crown,” reveals, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is subject to the many protocols that govern Buckingham Palace. His Majesty's reputation depends in part on his ability to observe strict discipline, to be dignified in all circumstances and to be prompt. She is not only the Queen of England, but she is also the Queen of Etiquette. In the past 94 years, she has never shown any willingness to rebel. She pays particular attention to her outfits, always very colorful, and never deviates from the rules, even if it means being intractable, so when her sister wanted to marry Captain Peter Townsend who was divorced, the Queen sadly refused.

At the table, too, the Queen has never defied palace etiquette. Beyond the rules of “classic” good behavior – don't put your elbows on the table – food is no exception. The Queen is forced to follow a rigorous diet that prohibits the consumption of many foods. The oldest monarch, there may be a few things to learn from the Queen's diet. Meal, tea ritual, drinks… We take stock of the prohibitions of the queen's diet.

1 / Onion and garlic

A large part of the Queen's role is to interact with others, especially with her subjects, during the many ceremonies and inaugurations in which she participates. So it makes sense that she avoids foods that promote bad breath. For the Queen, banning garlic from her dishes is not a sacrifice because she loathes it. A constraint to which the French would have much more difficulty submitting: what flavor would a soup, a gratin, or a quiche without garlic and / or without onions have?

2 / Tap water

Drinking tap water is out of the question for Her Majesty The Queen because of the risk of food poisoning. The British royal family drink natural mineral water from the Hildon Spring, located in the Hampshire countryside in southern England. “Hildon” holds a royal mandate as a supplier to Her Majesty's households and according to the director of the company, "It means a lot to the whole team. Above all, it is proof that we have an environmental and sustainable policy, which is not only part of the criteria for obtaining the mandate, but also an important part of our basic philosophy". If you want to ensure clean water, and in order to avoid plastic pollution of the bottles, opt more for a water filter and be your own supplier.

3 / Crusts and angles

Her Majesty loves sandwiches, especially the cucumber and salmon, to accompany her 5pm tea. Some even say it's his favorite meal. But be careful, the crispy crust of the bread must be removed. This tradition goes back a long time. This is primarily a question of form. According to former head for the royal family, Graham Newbould, "You should never cut your sandwich into a square or a rectangle […] It looks too much like a coffin and then means that you wish the queen bad luck." The octagon cut is preferred, hence the absence of a rind.

4 / Zero waste policy at Buckingham Palace

This is not really a ban, but it is a philosophy of life to which the Queen is committed. While it shouldn't be very difficult to finish off a dish prepared by a great chef, The Daily Meal, the newspaper on gastronomy, indicates that the Queen goes even further: she insists that any leftovers be served to her the next day. "On Monday, the day after Sunday roast, The Queen eats the equivalent of her servants: shepherd's pie, rissoles, or a royal favorite, bubble and squeak, to finish off the leftovers."

5 / raw meat

A steak tartare? A rare steak? Especially not ! In order to avoid poisoning linked to the consumption of meat, His Majesty refuses to eat his meats other than well cooked. Here too, she doesn't have to put in much effort, she is not a fan of rare meat. Unlike the French!

6 / Crustaceans

Although she eats fish regularly, seafood is never on the menu. As with red meat, the Queen is wary of possible food poisoning.

7 / Starchy foods

Her Majesty generally avoids pasta, potatoes, and rice, with the exception of large dinners. She just prefers good chicken and vegetables. But don't worry, the Queen still eats bread, phew!

Read also: These foods that Queen Elizabeth II forbids to Meghan Markle

8 / Off-season vegetables

A rule now followed by more and more subjects of his Majesty and French.

9 / Eat raspberries in public? Never !

Being the epitome of etiquette, The Queen must avoid anything that could adversely affect her appearance in front of her subjects and the general public. For this reason, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, in short anything that contains seeds and which can get stuck between the teeth, are prohibited.

10 / Did you know? Contrary to what one might think, the Queen does not eat "English Breakfast".

She opts for a lighter breakfast. No bacon, sausage, eggs, bread or vegetables, she prefers cereals, "Special K" in particular, accompanied by fruit. Did you say healthy?