Everything the Queen eats on Christmas Day, according to former palace chef

8 November 2021, 13:21 | Updated: 22 December 2021, 11:36

By Alice Dear

@According2Al

The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family's Christmas Day menu is a lot more simplistic than you may imagine.

The Queen, 95, is spending this year's Christmas period at Windsor Castle with her a small number of family members.

This comes a year after Her Majesty and the late Prince Philip were forced to call the royal tradition off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now able to see family and friends, it is no wonder the Monarch wants to celebrate the festivities with her family.

One thing that we know will happen on Christmas Day is that the family will sit down for the a delicious dinner and – thanks to a former chef for the Royal Family – we've got a glimpse into exactly what that entails.

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The Royal Family put on a very simplistic Christmas Day menu, says former royal chef Darren McGrady.

McGrady spent 15 years cooking for the Royal Family, and has previously served the Queen, the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

The chef revealed to My London that while many people would imagine an elaborate serving of expensive dishes on the table at the Royal Family's Christmas dinner, they actually keep it very basic.

Here's what you'd expect to find on the dinner table on 25th December:

• 3 x traditional turkeys (Plus enough for the staff)
• Mashed and roast potatoes
• Chestnut or sage and onion stuffing
• Cranberry sauce
• Bread sauce
• Brussel sprouts
• Carrots
• Roasted parsnips
• Traditional Christmas pudding

We know what you're thinking – where are the pigs in blankets?

Speaking to the publication, McGrady explained: "It was the same meal every year.

"They're actually boring when it comes to festivities. They didn't do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys.

“We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children's nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch."

He continued: "The turkey is served with mashed and roast potatoes, chestnut or sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce and bread sauce. Vegetables include brussels sprouts, carrots and roast parsnips.”

For pudding, the Queen and her family would sit down to a homemade Christmas pudding, which would be bought into the dining room flaming already.

Related video:

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According to McGrady, Christmas Day is also a time where the Queen enjoys a small tipple.

Before dinner, Her Majesty is said to have a classic gin and dubonnet cocktail.

She will then move on to a glass of the sweet and aromatic German white wine gewürztraminer while she eats her dinner.

Read more Royal Family news:

• Diana's wedding dress designer reveals how she fooled the press into thinking it was pink
• This previously unseen clip of Diana telling Harry off is hilarious
• First look at Princess Diana with Harry and William on the set of The Crown

Watch The Queen record her Christmas speech