Despite access to lavish meals, the late royal preferred a humble favourite
Princess Diana may have lived among luxury, but when it came to food, her tastes were often refreshingly simple.
According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, the late Princess of Wales had a real soft spot for a classic British comfort meal: jacket potatoes. While she had access to some of the most elaborate dishes prepared in the royal kitchens, Diana reportedly enjoyed the humble potato served with baked beans and cheese.
“I know Princess Diana loved them,” McGrady shared while speaking to Heart Bingo. “For all the lavish food she had access to, one of her favourite ways to eat a jacket potato was with baked beans and cheese. She really enjoyed that.”
McGrady, who previously worked in the kitchens at Kensington Palace, also recalled meals prepared for the royal household. He explained that the children often enjoyed crispy potato wedges paired with fried chicken or beef.
Reflecting on his time working for the royals, the chef said the palace kitchens were always stocked with the very best ingredients. The butcher would regularly deliver top-quality cuts of meat for the royal table, while the greengrocer often brought far more produce than requested so the staff could select only the finest items.
“If we ordered pears and needed 24, the greengrocer would bring 100 so we could pick the best ones,” McGrady explained.
He also noted that meals for the Queen were carefully organised ahead of time. The kitchen team would plan menus up to three days in advance to ensure fresh ingredients were always available.
Despite the grandeur surrounding royal life, Diana’s love for a simple jacket potato shows that even a princess could appreciate a comforting, down-to-earth meal.
