Home / Latest News / Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth Typically Avoids Fast Food, But She Has One Guilty Pleasure, Royal Chef Reveals

Queen Elizabeth typically avoids fast food, but she has one guilty pleasure, a royal chef revealed.

queen e food
Source: MEGA

Queen Elizabeth doesn't gravitate towards eating fast food — but she will make one exception for this yummy sustenance, professional chef Darren McGrady, who prepared meals for the monarch, admitted.

According to the chef, the 95-year-old loves hamburgers. “There’d be gorgeous cranberry stuffed into them, but we never set buns out," he said.

McGrady added that during his 15 years at the palace, the Queen did not devour pizza once!

When he wasn't cooking meat, he opted for whipping up some French food.

FROM CHRISTMAS SERVICES TO TROOPING THE COLOUR: HOW THE ROYALS CELEBRATE THEIR INTRIGUING FAMILY TRADITIONS

One of the foods she hates the most is garlic, as she would "never have it on the menu," McGrady said. "She hated the smell of it, she hated the taste of it.”

McGrady also shared how he would trick Princess Diana and the Queen.

“I always suggested two puddings for the menu — Diana’s favorite and one the Queen didn’t like so I knew the Queen would pick the bread and butter creme soufflé,” he explained. “It worked every time and the Princess got it whenever she visited the Queen. When the platter came back to the kitchen I had to fight off the chefs from digging in and I’d put it into the warmer and wait.”

Graham Tinsley, who has cooked for the Queen many times over the years, revealed that before she attends a big banquet or dinner, there are certain protocols in place.

“If we were just cooking for the royal family, we weren’t always aware of the security. It only changed if there were heads of state coming over, and then the security was really, really tight,” he told HELLO! magazine. “If we were catering for a heads of state banquet then all the catering staff would have to meet at a police station and get a motorcycle ride [to the castle].”

PRINCE CHARMING IN REAL LIFE! THE 10 MOST ELIGIBLE ROYAL BACHELORS IN THE WORLD — SEE PHOTOS

He added, “For higher-caliber banquets, we’re required to put all our food, containers, knives and kitchen equipment through an X-ray machine … Some banquets even have code names to protect their security!”

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

A UK barrister has a warning for the royals suggesting that the bedrock of British culture is under a strain that it may never truly recover. 
By Sakshi Singh · FEB 19, 2026
A new account suggests the two sisters-in-law competed fiercely for press attention and public approval.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 7, 2026
The Grammy-nominated artist discussed Harry and Meghan on a podcast, and shared what she thought about the estrangement.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 5, 2026
Meghan has already started to tease what appears to be a carefully thought-out Valentine's Day rollout tied to love, gifting, and slow mornings at home.
By Madhurima · JAN 28, 2026
Although Prince Harry's private security team identified her immediately, they found themselves in a legal stalemate.
By Sakshi Singh · JAN 26, 2026
Harry named 10 associates he was in regular contact with during the relevant period, including his brother, sister-in-law, and ex, Chelsy Davy.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 22, 2026
The Duke of Sussex entered the Gothic Victorian court building around 10 AM.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 19, 2026
This time around, the palace appears unwilling to loosen its purse strings beyond what is necessary.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 17, 2026
Insiders say the couple took on total risk with no investors involved.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 16, 2026
Sources say the silence was deliberate — but the Princess of Wales is choosing calm
By Abha Anindita · JAN 13, 2026