King Charles’ Need for Control Revealed by Former Royal Chef: ‘He Was Very Particular’
Apparently, there is only one aspect of his life in which King Charles has complete control.
Being a senior member of the royal family tends to come with its fair share of demands and sacrifices, often leaving them with little control over their own lives. The weight of expectations of being the monarch is even heavier. But, according to a former royal chef who used to work for King Charles, there happens to be one part of his daily life where he can still call the shots and take complete control: his food. Speaking to Marie Claire, Visen Anenden, who served as a head chef for King Charles for nearly a decade, opened up about the King’s extremely particular preferences when it comes to his meals.
Anenden elaborated that Charles is a true foodie who genuinely loves to eat, while also alleging that the King is “extremely interested in what he eats.” This is exactly why the job actually ended up giving him a rather solid lesson in sustainability and organic cooking. Because Charles prefers to take an active role in decision-making, menu planning required close attention. While explaining this, he added, “He’s very seasonal, and everything comes from the estate. He always wants to know where something has come from, so menus were very particular.” He also went on to explain that the royal family's dining style shifts depending on their location, with meals at Balmoral looking vastly different from what is served at Highgrove.
He explained that during these times “it would be only what you could source from the garden,” highlighting the Monarch's deep appreciation for fresh, local, and organic produce. This hands-on approach proved very advantageous for the chef and his team. As Anenden explained, “You really learn how the farm-to-fork aspect works, and it’s a phenomenal lesson for a chef!” He also added that the King and Queen Camilla always choose to be very careful with their food intake, noting, “The thing with the royals is that they don’t eat a lot.” Anenden further added, “It was always small portions. It’s never substantial, loaded plates at all, never.”
He also explained just how much the King and Queen love to give their input for the royal menus, and apparently, there is a very good reason for it. Anendan said, “They’re very conscious of their diet. It isn’t just them, but also lots of private households I’ve worked for; they all eat small portions. It can be to do with control. People like King Charles, because they have control over the food; that’s the only aspect of their life that they can control.” The revelation adds another layer to the picture of Charles behind the scenes.
