A chef who worked privately for the Queen for 11 years has revealed her ultimate favourite biscuit treats.
Queen Elizabeth II having tea in Glasgow in 1999 (Image: Getty)
When one thinks of Queen Elizabeth II, images of regal elegance, historical significance, and profound grace come to mind. Yet, even the reigning monarchs have their simple pleasures, and for the late Queen, one of those pleasures was a well-made biscuit.
Queen Elizabeth II was known to enjoy a variety of biscuits, with a few standing out as her particular favourites. These biscuits were often enjoyed with her afternoon tea – a tradition steeped in British culture.
Speaking to Hello! Magazine, private chef to the Queen for 11 years, Darren McGrady revealed the late Queen’s favourite biscuits: “When I was there… Chocolate Bath Olivers.”
He also revealed: “She is absolutely a chocoholic. Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie.”
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Chocolate Olivers are made by the exclusive brand Huntley & Palmer, and tin currently costs £8.49.
Prince Philip and the late Queen have tea in the South Pacific Islands 1982 (Image: Getty)
The brand describes the biscuits as follows: “Rich, dark chocolate, generously enrobed around a crisp slow-baked biscuit Chocolate Olivers are the ultimate biscuit indulgence, made using a patented recipe from the 1930’s, which includes hops and malt, with the thickest, richest dark chocolate.”
Huntley and Palmers say John Lennon of the band The Beatles once refused to be paid in cash, “preferring Chocolate Olivers instead”.
These biscuits were part of the everyday moments that grounded Queen Elizabeth amidst the grandeur of royal life.
Darren, the former royal family chef, also once shared a delicious recipe he used to make for the late Queen’s afternoon tea during her stay at Balmoral – Scottish shortbread.
Darren revealed the kitchen used a lot of local produce from the grounds in their cooking to make the biscuits, as the castle has its own vegetable garden.
Queen Elizabeth holding a cup of tea (Image: Getty)
With her biscuits, Queen Elizabeth was said to prefer her cup of Earl Grey with no sugar and the occasional drop of milk. Darren has also described the late Queen’s sweet tooth in the past, noting that she also enjoys the occasional dessert.
He also revealed that Her Majesty “never was a foodie” and preferred traditional British and French cuisine.
Unlike her husband, Prince Philip, she wasn’t a fan of trying new ingredients and would often rather stick to the same meals each week.
In a series of YouTube Q&A videos, Darren explained that when he was her personal chef, between 1982 and 1993, the monarch would consume breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
