Life under the Crown is often associated with tradition, protocol, and a structured way of living. However, King Charles‘ former chef has disclosed the one element of royal life the monarch has control over. The revelation comes as the palace undergoes a reshuffle, with some longtime staff members retiring.
Visen Anenden says the monarch exercises unusual personal control over food and royal menus
For senior members of the Royal Family, duty outweighs personal freedom, a reality that weighs most on the monarch. Yet a former palace chef said that King Charles still gets to decide one part of his routine entirely: his meals.
In an interview with Marie Claire, Visen Anenden, who spent nearly a decade as the King’s head chef, spoke about how particular His Majesty is about food. According to Anenden, the 77-year-old monarch is a true food enthusiast who cares deeply about what’s on his plate.
Working for him became a masterclass in sustainable and organic cuisine. Since King Charles prefers to have a say, every menu had to be planned with real precision.
“He’s very seasonal, and everything comes from the estate. He always wants to know where something has come from, so menus were very particular,” Anenden explained. He also noted that the royal family’s meals change based on where they are. The food at Balmoral bears little resemblance to what’s served at Highgrove.
The royal chef further said that at those times “it would be only what you could source from the garden,” underscoring Charles’ commitment to fresh, seasonal, and organic food. That hands-on way of cooking worked well for Anenden and his kitchen staff. He reflected, “You really learn how the farm-to-fork aspect works, and it’s a phenomenal lesson for a chef!”
Anenden also pointed out that both the King and Queen Camilla watch what they eat closely, commenting, “The thing with the royals is that they don’t eat a lot.” He went on to say, “It was always small portions. It’s never substantial, loaded plates at all, never.”
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
