Royal Chef Reveals Andrew’s Stark Reminder of Queen Elizabeth at New Norfolk Home
A former royal chef shares insight into the family ritual remembered at the Norfolk residence.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has left the last thread of royal life he had long clung to: Royal Lodge. He is temporarily residing at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate while his long-term home, reportedly Marsh Farm, undergoes renovations. After public scrutiny over his associations with Jeffrey Epstein has largely defined the narrative around him, there remains at least one connection to a far less contentious chapter of his past in Norfolk.
It is at Sandringham that the former Duke of York is most likely to recall a childhood routine shared with his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. Former royal chef Darren McGrady previously spoke to HELLO! about the late monarch’s eating habits. McGrady told the outlet how the late Queen was particular about her meals. "The chefs would pick the menus, and she would put a line through the ones she didn't want. Sometimes she'd put a line through it all and put something different - like if she was having dinner with Andrew [Mountbatten-Windsor], his favorite was Crème Brulee with Sandringham oranges."
As a kid, Mountbatten-Windsor was often seen at Sandringham with his late mother and other siblings.
The chef also reflected on his years in royal service in his book Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen. He recalled the late Queen’s firm household rule when it came to her beloved corgis — a practice observed at the same royal residence that Mountbatten-Windsor’s now calls home. "The dining room was right next to the kitchen, and we knew when the Queen was coming through for lunch because the door was always open and the dogs would be herded into the kitchen," Darren wrote in the book.
It has long been noted that Queen Elizabeth held a particular affection for Wood Farm, the more secluded residence on the Sandringham Estate. Unlike the main house, the cottage offered a degree of privacy that allowed the monarch to step away from the formality of court life. Royal author Robert Jobson previously reflected on its importance in the monarch's life, describing it as a personal retreat for the late Queen and Prince Philip. “The Grade II-listed Wood Farm, located on a secluded part of the Queen’s Sandringham Estate looking out to sea, has long been a bolthole for the Queen and her late husband Prince Philip,” he explained.
According to Jobson, the cottage served as a refuge for decades. “It is where the Queen, Philip, and their four children went to relax for more than 50 years. And, of course, it is where Philip made his retirement home in his twilight years with the Queen’s blessing.” He also highlighted the simplicity that defined life there, in contrast to the structure of Palace living. “The Queen was known to cook and even do dishes while she was staying there. It is now the place Her Majesty, now a widow, has chosen to go for a bit of privacy and reflection after a traumatic 12 months.”
