King Charles' Unusual Royal Meal Once Forced Guests to go Vegetarian at The Last Minute
King Charles' decision to serve an exotic dish during an event left guests scurrying to get out of eating it.
King Charles is known to be a stickler for a simpler diet, and he even forgoes his daily lunch at times. But there is one situation where he forgets his food rules for a day, and that is when there is a state banquet. It seems that such events tickle the experimental foodie inside him, as he reportedly becomes more than willing to serve exotic dishes to the guests. However, there is a catch when it comes to making distinctive menu choices. No matter how unique and well-intentioned they might be, such choices don't always land with everyone.
Former royal butler and founder of Regal Afternoon Tea, Julius Smith, revealed one such occasion when the monarch’s decision to have a select delicacy during an event put guests in an awkward spot. As per Hello!, Smith said that Charles once served “terrine of squirrel” at a formal gathering, which left guests scurrying to get out of eating it. Pun intended. The guests even came up with interesting ideas to avoid eating the exotic dish. Smith joked that the event suddenly had “a few last-minute vegetarians,” and many plates were left untouched.
While the guests may not have liked the dish, Charles seemingly enjoyed it. However, the King, who is known for handling tricky situations tactfully, managed the unusual scenario with his “trademark politeness.” He himself might not have been taken aback by the dish like most guests were, since he would have approved it beforehand, considering he is not amused by surprises during meal times. “There's a good chance he knew what was coming and had tried it already to make sure it was edible,” Smith said.
The sovereign is a creature of habit when it comes to food, and Smith attested to it, saying, “You don't need to waste his time offering things and asking questions because you already know what he likes.” Charles is also very particular about two things when it comes to meals. “The worst thing you can do is take the last biscuit without offering – and take pictures of the food. Just enjoy it!” Smith explained.
King Charles is not the only one in the royal family with a distinct palate. His younger sister, Princess Anne, reportedly likes blackened bananas and smoked kippers. However, for the former choice, she has a very practical reason. Former royal chef Darren McGrady said, “(She) almost always preferred the bananas almost black and overripe, because they digest easily.”
Apart from a simple diet, Charles has another strict rule during meal times. As a huge proponent of food sustainability, he doesn’t allow any food to go to waste.
