During her time as a member of the royal family, Princess Diana had several dishes that she enjoyed, including a comfort-food meal that she often shared with Prince William and Prince Harry. She was a well-loved princess and her passing in 1997 was felt globally. Despite her royal status, she attempted to live a relatively normal life and would sometimes request her favorite meals from former royal chef Darren McGrady.
McGrady recently revealed one of Diana’s favorite comfort food dishes; here’s what it is and how to make it.
For many years, the royal family has employed professional chefs who have the opportunity to learn about their likes and dislikes while preparing meals for them. During her time in the royal family, Diana was served by chef Darren McGrady, and they developed a close friendship. In a recent YouTube video, McGrady disclosed that Diana enjoyed indulging in comfort food occasionally and had a particular fondness for egg Suzette.
“Egg Suzette; you can see why it was one of the Princess Diana’s favorites,” McGrady said of the dish. “She requested it at least once a week … She loved that poached egg on top, a little hollandaise sauce, and some spinach on the bottom.”
A delicious and comforting dish called Egg Suzette can be made with eggs and potatoes. First, bake the potatoes and then scoop out the filling to mix it with rich ingredients such as sour cream and butter. Afterward, add an egg and put the filling back into the potato before baking it until the egg sets. Sometimes, additional ingredients like bacon and chives are also added to enhance the flavor. Princess Diana loved sharing this cozy meal with her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
It’s easy to play favorites when you have a professional chef regularly whipping up delicious meals, and Diana had several favorites while McGrady was the royal family chef. McGrady has previously said that Diana often enjoyed baked beans for breakfast, which are a staple in the United Kingdom but are far less common as a breakfast dish in the United States.
It has been mentioned by McGrady that Diana had a fondness for foods that were stuffed, like stuffed eggplant. This could explain her liking for egg Suzette, which is essentially a baked potato filled with an egg. Diana was previously married to Prince Charles from 1981 until 1996, with their separation occurring after news of Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles was made public. Following her divorce, Diana passed away in a car accident in 1997. However, her sons, William and Harry, have made efforts to honor their mother’s legacy, including unveiling a statue of her on royal grounds in 2021.
