Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has a sweet tooth, her former chef says. Reuters
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has a sweet tooth, her former chef says. Reuters
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has a sweet tooth, her former chef says. Reuters
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has a sweet tooth, her former chef says. Reuters

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UK

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is a 'chocoholic', her former chef reveals

Darren McGrady also said Gordon Ramsay would never get a job in the royal kitchen

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

April 13, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is “definitely a chocoholic”, her former chef Darren McGrady has revealed.

Mr McGrady also said that Gordon Ramsay could never be a chef at Buckingham Palace “because of his ego”.

He spent more than a decade cooking for the queen at Buckingham Palace and Balmoral before moving to Kensington, where he cooked for Princes William and Harry, and Diana, Princess of Wales, before her death in 1997.

“The Queen was definitely a chocoholic, she loves dark chocolate," Mr McGrady said.

"I used to make a mousse au chocolate et cafe, a dark chocolate mousse, and I added in some real espresso coffee to intensify the flavour. So that was on the menu quite a bit at Buckingham Palace.

“We also used to make a coffee mousse. At banquets when the queen was entertaining, the most popular dessert on the menu often was an ice cream bombe.

"We did a bombe glacee coppelia, which was coffee ice cream filled with praline and decorated with whipped cream and liquor coffee beans.”

He revealed that there were no food tasters during his time in serving the monarch, so other security measures were relied on instead.

“With the queen, we would prepare 150 plates and the queen’s page would come in and pick one at random," Mr McGrady said.

"That way, if you were to tamper with the food you would have to tamper with all of them.

“From our perspective, it also meant we had to get the same standard across every plate, not knowing which one the queen would be eating.

“There was quite a regimented process and the queen stuck with a lot of the same dishes throughout the week.

"If we had a new recipe for a dish, we would have to send the whole recipe up to the queen and she would look through it."

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. Here 'The National' looks back at each of the years the queen has been on the throne. All photos: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. Here 'The National' looks back at each of the years the queen has been on the throne. All photos: Getty Images
1952: A portrait of the queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
1952: A portrait of the queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
1953: The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave at the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, after the queen's coronation, on June 2.
1953: The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave at the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, after the queen's coronation, on June 2.
1954: The queen talking to an injured ex-serviceman during a visit to Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart, Australia.
1954: The queen talking to an injured ex-serviceman during a visit to Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart, Australia.
1955: Gen Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal, leaves Westminster Pier for Buckingham Palace by coach, with the queen.
1955: Gen Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal, leaves Westminster Pier for Buckingham Palace by coach, with the queen.
1956: The queen inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, at Kaduna Airport, Nigeria, during her Commonwealth tour.
1956: The queen inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, at Kaduna Airport, Nigeria, during her Commonwealth tour.
1957: The queen presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon.
1957: The queen presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon.
1958: The queen shares a joke while watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle, Hampshire.
1958: The queen shares a joke while watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle, Hampshire.
1959: US president Dwight D Eisenhower with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the queen, Prince Charles and John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
1959: US president Dwight D Eisenhower with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the queen, Prince Charles and John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
1960: The queen and Prince Charles walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with their dogs, having returned by train from Sandringham after the Christmas holidays.
1960: The queen and Prince Charles walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with their dogs, having returned by train from Sandringham after the Christmas holidays.
1961: The queen and Prince Philip leave Manchester by train.
1961: The queen and Prince Philip leave Manchester by train.
1962: The queen attends the races at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey.
1962: The queen attends the races at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey.
1963: The queen waves to residents from the rear of an open top car in the town of Russell, during a Commonwealth visit to New Zealand.
1963: The queen waves to residents from the rear of an open top car in the town of Russell, during a Commonwealth visit to New Zealand.
1964: The queen during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony in the chamber of the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster in London.
1964: The queen during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony in the chamber of the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster in London.
1965: At the Tissisal Falls, where the Blue Nile begins, with Emperor Haile Selassie during a royal visit to Ethiopia.
1965: At the Tissisal Falls, where the Blue Nile begins, with Emperor Haile Selassie during a royal visit to Ethiopia.
1966: The queen smiling after presenting England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.
1966: The queen smiling after presenting England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.
1967: The queen meets actor Rex Harrison and his wife Rachel Roberts at the premiere of the film 'Dr Dolittle' at the Odeon Marble Arch, London.
1967: The queen meets actor Rex Harrison and his wife Rachel Roberts at the premiere of the film 'Dr Dolittle' at the Odeon Marble Arch, London.
1968: The queen, Princess Margaret, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, riding at Ascot Racecourse.
1968: The queen, Princess Margaret, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, riding at Ascot Racecourse.
1969: The royal family at Windsor: Prince Edward, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.
1969: The royal family at Windsor: Prince Edward, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.
1970: US president Richard Nixon and British prime minister Edward Heath meet the queen for lunch at Chequers.
1970: US president Richard Nixon and British prime minister Edward Heath meet the queen for lunch at Chequers.
1971: Prince Charles takes part in a polo match in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward.
1971: Prince Charles takes part in a polo match in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward.
1972: The queen and Prince Philip with the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, during a visit to Kenya.
1972: The queen and Prince Philip with the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, during a visit to Kenya.
1973: Anne, the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips with the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their wedding.
1973: Anne, the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips with the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their wedding.
1974: The queen with the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London.
1974: The queen with the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London.
1975: The queen greets the public while visiting Greenwich, London.
1975: The queen greets the public while visiting Greenwich, London.
1976: The queen looking relaxed standing next to her car.
1976: The queen looking relaxed standing next to her car.
1977: The crowd cheers the queen in her gilded state coach during her silver jubilee procession.
1977: The crowd cheers the queen in her gilded state coach during her silver jubilee procession.
1978: The queen and Prince Philip are greeted by Native Canadians as they arrive by train during a tour of Canada.
1978: The queen and Prince Philip are greeted by Native Canadians as they arrive by train during a tour of Canada.
1979: The queen is met by president Julius Nyerere at Dar es Salaam airport, at the start of a three-day state visit to Tanzania.
1979: The queen is met by president Julius Nyerere at Dar es Salaam airport, at the start of a three-day state visit to Tanzania.
1980: On a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show, London.
1980: On a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show, London.
1981: The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, with the queen.
1981: The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, with the queen.
1982: US president Ronald Reagan and the queen at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle.
1982: US president Ronald Reagan and the queen at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle.
1983: The queen and Prince Philip are met by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and president Zail Singh at Palam Airport, New Delhi, during a Commonwealth tour of India.
1983: The queen and Prince Philip are met by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and president Zail Singh at Palam Airport, New Delhi, during a Commonwealth tour of India.
1984: Prince Charles is presented with an award by his mother, after a polo match at Smiths Lawn in Windsor.
1984: Prince Charles is presented with an award by his mother, after a polo match at Smiths Lawn in Windsor.
1985: The queen visits the University of Evora during a state visit to Portugal.
1985: The queen visits the University of Evora during a state visit to Portugal.
1986: The queen and Li Xiannian, president of China, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during her visit to China.
1986: The queen and Li Xiannian, president of China, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during her visit to China.
1987: The queen with Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor.
1987: The queen with Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor.
1988: US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan chatting with the queen at Buckingham Palace.
1988: US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan chatting with the queen at Buckingham Palace.
1989: The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pictured are Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
1989: The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pictured are Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
1990: The queen on a walkabout in Reykjavik, during a three-day state visit to Iceland.
1990: The queen on a walkabout in Reykjavik, during a three-day state visit to Iceland.
1991: England captain Will Carling introduces the queen to the England team before the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham.
1991: England captain Will Carling introduces the queen to the England team before the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham.
1992: The queen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin during an official tour of Germany. She is seen with President Richard Von Weizsaecker.
1992: The queen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin during an official tour of Germany. She is seen with President Richard Von Weizsaecker.
1993: The queen walking through the crowds at Royal Ascot.
1993: The queen walking through the crowds at Royal Ascot.
1994: The queen, Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Princess Diana greeting well-wishers as they attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
1994: The queen, Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Princess Diana greeting well-wishers as they attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
1995: The queen at a banquet in Cape Town, South Africa, with president Nelson Mandela.
1995: The queen at a banquet in Cape Town, South Africa, with president Nelson Mandela.
1996: Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy as the queen smiles, after the 1996 UEFA European Championships Final against Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London.
1996: Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy as the queen smiles, after the 1996 UEFA European Championships Final against Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London.
1997: The queen and Prince Philip view tributes from the public outside Buckingham Palace to Diana, Princess of Wales, after her funeral.
1997: The queen and Prince Philip view tributes from the public outside Buckingham Palace to Diana, Princess of Wales, after her funeral.
1998: The queen shopping at the trade stands at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1998: The queen shopping at the trade stands at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1999: With British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair during the Millennium New Year celebrations in Greenwich, London.
1999: With British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair during the Millennium New Year celebrations in Greenwich, London.
2000: The queen and Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi walk past the honour guard at the Piazza Di Siena in Rome.
2000: The queen and Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi walk past the honour guard at the Piazza Di Siena in Rome.
2001: The queen and other members of the royal family appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in London.
2001: The queen and other members of the royal family appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in London.
2002: The queen and Prince Philip leave after a party for close friends and family at The Ritz hotel in London. The monarch was thanking them for making her golden jubilee year a success.
2002: The queen and Prince Philip leave after a party for close friends and family at The Ritz hotel in London. The monarch was thanking them for making her golden jubilee year a success.
2003: Russian President Vladimir Putin is accompanied by the queen during a procession at the start of his state visit in London.
2003: Russian President Vladimir Putin is accompanied by the queen during a procession at the start of his state visit in London.
2004: The queen arrives in her horsedrawn carriage to attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
2004: The queen arrives in her horsedrawn carriage to attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
2005: Prince Charles and his bride, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose with their families and the queen at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony.
2005: Prince Charles and his bride, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose with their families and the queen at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony.
2006: The queen smiles at the crowds in Windsor, during a walk in the town to celebrate her 80th Birthday.
2006: The queen smiles at the crowds in Windsor, during a walk in the town to celebrate her 80th Birthday.
2007: A less-than-impressed queen raises her hand during a downpour as she stands with Prince Philip and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
2007: A less-than-impressed queen raises her hand during a downpour as she stands with Prince Philip and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
2008: The queen stands in the music room at Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas day message to the Commonwealth.
2008: The queen stands in the music room at Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas day message to the Commonwealth.
2009: US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace.
2009: US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace.
2010: The queen and Prince Philip wear 3D glasses to watch a demonstration, during a visit to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
2010: The queen and Prince Philip wear 3D glasses to watch a demonstration, during a visit to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
2011: The queen and Prince Philip arrive to open the Sainsbury Laboratory for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.
2011: The queen and Prince Philip arrive to open the Sainsbury Laboratory for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.
2012: The queen makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.
2012: The queen makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.
2013: The queen and other members of the royal family leave Westminster Abbey in London, after the service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the queen there.
2013: The queen and other members of the royal family leave Westminster Abbey in London, after the service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the queen there.
2014: A smiling queen arrives for the opening of the Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks in London.
2014: A smiling queen arrives for the opening of the Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks in London.
2015: The queen signs a book during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2015: The queen signs a book during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2016: Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall.
2016: Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall.
2017: The queen and Prince Charles attend the State Opening Of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London.
2017: The queen and Prince Charles attend the State Opening Of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London.
2018: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and the queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
2018: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and the queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
2019: The queen and US president Donald Trump arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
2019: The queen and US president Donald Trump arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
2020: Riding at Windsor. The queen has been in residence at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic.
2020: Riding at Windsor. The queen has been in residence at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic.
2021: The queen takes her seat at the funeral of Prince Philip, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
2021: The queen takes her seat at the funeral of Prince Philip, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Mr McGrady, who is based in Dallas, Texas, and has cooked for five US presidents, was adamant that Ramsay would never have been fit to work at Buckingham Palace, “not because he couldn’t cook — he is an amazing chef — but because of his ego.

“Yelling and shouting as William and Harry walked in the room would have been a big no-no and wouldn’t have lasted long.”

His career had a humble start. One of his first jobs in the royal kitchen in 1982 was “making food for the royal corgis and when I got to Balmoral, peeling carrots for the queen’s horse. You really start at the bottom."

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Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

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Rating: 4/5

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Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
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The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make

When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.

“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.

This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).

Age

$250 a month

$500 a month

$1,000 a month

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.

A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.

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Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)

Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)

Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)

Sunday

VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen  (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)

Maestro
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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

The lowdown

Bohemian Rhapsody

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee

Rating: 3/5

LUKA CHUPPI

Director: Laxman Utekar

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon​​​​​​​, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana

Rating: 3/5

Updated: April 13, 2022, 9:33 PM
The UK royal familyChefs