Queen Elizabeth banned three common foods at royal banquets – and one’s a ‘poison risk’

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly banned three common foods at all the royal banquets she held, according to the son of Queen Camilla.

spoke about the late Queen Elizabeth in and confirmed that the previous monarch banned some popular food items from the table for very practical reasons.

When discussing the type of food on the menu at royal banquets, Tom, 49, said: “Spicy food is not an option, nor shellfish (for reasons of potential poisoning), or dishes laden with garlic.

“Seasonality is ever important and ingredients are gathered, where possible, from the royal estates. Times may have changed, and appetites diminished. But one thing is eternally true. No one ever leaves the royal table hungry.”

The revelation comes after Camilla’s son, who recently published a book focusing on the recipes of the Royal Family, gave royal fans an insight into what state banquets are really like.

In the Daily Mail, Tom said that the banquets, which are held up to three times a year, are like a “ballet” performance.

He wrote: “This is not mere eating, rather a brilliantly choreographed ballet, ‘souffle’ diplomacy at its finest, as kings and queens, princes, potentates and presidents sit down to revel in the eternal power of the shared table.

“Dinners may not only stretch to three courses, but they are still powerful diplomatic tools: edible statecraft, pure dinnertime diplomacy.”

’s son also revealed that the late Queen had a voice when it came to what was on the menu at the banquets and liked to make menu adaptations based on who was attending.

This was because she knew what certain guests liked and didn’t like, so she tried to fit the menu around their preferences rather than her own.

Queen Camilla’s son also said that away from banquets, his mother and enjoy “laid back” dinners regardless of where they are that evening.

, Tom said: “With the exception of state banquets and official dinners, the King and Queen eat simple, healthy and resolutely seasonal food, whether they’re at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham or Balmoral.

“Their chefs, under the expert control of Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, travel with them. The King and Queen really know their food.

“There is no man who knows more about food and farming, from the best of British cheeses, through rare breeds of sheep and cow, to heritage varieties of plum, apple and pear, than the King.”