Former royal chef describes the ‘boring’ Christmas lunch King Charles eats every year

A former royal chef has revealed the King and Queen’s favorite Christmas meal, which he says isn’t too adventurous.

Darren McGrady, 61, a chef from Nottinghamshire who once cooked for members of the monarchy including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, has said the family are in favor of festive traditions.

Speak with Okay magazinethe food writer revealed details of what a typical Christmas dinner looked like for the royals – and it resembled the much-loved meal enjoyed by many Brits at home.

He said: ‘It was the same meal every year. They are actually boring when it comes to festivities. They didn’t make hams or anything, just traditional turkeys.

“We made three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the Royal Dining Room, one for the nursery and another for the 100 or so staff so everyone had a Christmas lunch.”

He mentioned a traditional turkey as the main course, accompanied by mashed and fried potatoes and stuffing of chestnut or sage onions (Stock Image)

With King Charles expected to preside over the palace festivities for the second time since his mother’s death last year, the chef revealed what the king is likely to enjoy.

He mentioned a traditional turkey as the main course, accompanied by mashed and roasted potatoes and chestnut or sage and onion stuffing.

You can also expect two sauces of cranberry or bread, as well as vegetables, Brussels sprouts, carrots and roasted parsnips.

The tasty tradition continues with a homemade dessert of brandy-drenched Christmas pudding.

According to Darren, the pudding is served after Christmas dinner and brought to the dining room hot and ‘flaming’ by the palace master.

Although her son will likely shake things up with his own personal touches, when it came to the Queen, Christmas drinks included a classic gin dubonnet cocktail and a glass of Gewürztraminer – a German white wine with a medium to full body.

The rest of the special day is expected to be quite hectic for the royals and is expected to be filled with family, fun and festivities.

The big day begins with the monarch dining on a personal breakfast, before the whole family gathers to head to St Mary Magdalene Church for the 11am service.

Darren, 61, a chef from Nottinghamshire who once cooked for members of the monarchy including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, has said the famous family are sticklers for festive traditions. Hotel on May 1, 2016 in Los Angeles, California)

According to the chef, the royal family will also indulge in two cranberry or bread sauces, as well as vegetables, Brussels sprouts, carrots and roasted parsnips (Stock Image)

After that, the royal family’s Christmas Day is a lot like other families’ December 25: filled with food every time.

The royal family dines on delicacies such as ox tongue and stuffed boar’s head; but the classic Christmas dinner is still celebrated, as the royal family eats roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Later, there’s lots of fun to be had unpacking a royal Fortnum and Mason Christmas basket of organic jams, chutneys and other treats.

After lunch and some more fun, it’s time for the whole family to watch the monarch’s Christmas message on television, followed by an evening meal of roast hams and boar’s head.

The day ends with a Christmas boogie, with the palace staff gathering for the rest of the evening for an evening of disco and drinks.

And on Christmas Eve, the royals are known for taking things up a notch.

With King Charles expected to preside over the palace festivities for the second time since his mother’s death last year, the chef revealed what the king is likely to enjoy (Photo: King Charles delivers his message during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast last year)

The late Queen is said to have enjoyed Christmas drinks, including a classic gin and dubonnet cocktail, and a glass of Gewürztraminer – a medium to full-bodied German white wine (Photo: Queen Elizabeth II recording her annual Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle)

One tradition that sets the Royal Family apart from the rest of us is their stately annual dinner.

The big black-tie dinner usually takes place on Christmas Eve at their country retreat in Sandringham, Norfolk, where the royals travel for the holidays.

The who’s who of the famous family are expected to descend on the sprawling estate to dine with King Charles, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and his niece Zara Philips and her husband Mike Tindall.

The adults-only affair starts in the evening with martinis before dinner – so no children allowed. Meanwhile, guests are expected to turn up in their Sunday best, with the women donning glamorous ball gowns and wearing tiaras and jewelry.

The main event is a luxurious four-course feast, including a starter followed by a beef dish and a portion of cheese.

The dessert often includes chocolate, the favorite of the late Queen. But with King Charles in charge of things this year, there could be a new festive treat on the horizon.