Inside the Royal Family’s Surprisingly Casual Balm...

Inside the Royal Family’s Surprisingly Casual Balmoral BBQs: Who Took Charge of the Grill, Who Helped in the Kitchen and Who Couldn’t Resist Dessert?

For generations, Balmoral Castle has been associated with one of the most private and relaxed sides of the British royal family. Away from state banquets, formal receptions and the constant demands of royal life, Scotland provided an opportunity for the family to spend time together in a much more informal setting.

Now, former royal chef Darren McGrady has offered a fascinating glimpse into what those summer gatherings were really like — particularly the family barbecues that brought several royals into the kitchen and outdoors.

McGrady spent 15 years working for the royal family. He cooked for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip before later becoming Princess Diana’s private chef and preparing meals for Princes William and Harry. His experience gave him a rare perspective on how the family behaved when they were away from the public eye.

According to his latest account, Prince Philip was the enthusiastic barbecue cook of the family. The late Duke of Edinburgh was deeply interested in food and recipes and apparently enjoyed taking control of the main course.

Rather than simply waiting for the kitchen staff to prepare everything, Philip would explore the Balmoral gardens, see what fresh produce was available and think about how it could be incorporated into the meal. He particularly appreciated local ingredients and would consider marinades and vegetables before taking responsibility for cooking the main dish.

Princess Anne also played an active role. McGrady recalled that she would sometimes come into the kitchen and announce that she was responsible for the first course. She would then ask what ingredients or dishes she could take outside.

The arrangement created something resembling a family potluck rather than a conventional royal dinner. Different members contributed different parts of the meal, while the professional kitchen staff provided assistance when necessary.

Then there was Prince Edward and his apparent weakness for dessert.

McGrady revealed that Edward would ask the kitchen staff to prepare pancake batter. Once the family was ready to eat, he could fill the pancakes with raspberries or strawberries grown in the Balmoral gardens and add ice cream.

The details are striking because they show a side of royal life that is rarely visible during official engagements. Balmoral was not simply another royal residence. It was a place where members of the family could step away from protocol and behave more like an ordinary family enjoying a summer meal together.

Queen Elizabeth herself reportedly loved Balmoral and regarded it as a particularly special retreat. McGrady has previously described the estate as a place where the royal family could relax considerably more than they did at Buckingham Palace.

The estate’s importance has continued into the next generation. Prince William has spoken warmly about his childhood memories of Scotland, and he and Catherine have also used the area as a private family retreat.

Perhaps the most revealing part of McGrady’s memories is not the food itself, but the atmosphere surrounding it. At Balmoral, royal titles could temporarily take a back seat while family members cooked, ate outdoors and enjoyed the freedom of the Scottish countryside.

And for anyone wondering who was responsible for the barbecue, the answer appears surprisingly clear: Prince Philip took the grill, Princess Anne helped with the first course, and Prince Edward made sure dessert was worth saving room for.