King Charles III exercises personal control over meals, says former chef

Visen Anenden, who served as King Charles III’s head chef for nearly a decade, has revealed that the monarch exercises significant personal control over his daily meals and ingredient sourcing.

According to Anenden, the King is a food enthusiast who prioritizes seasonal and organic produce, often sourcing ingredients directly from royal estates. This approach varies depending on the royal family's location; for instance, meals at Balmoral rely heavily on what can be sourced directly from the estate's gardens, providing a “farm-to-fork” dining experience.

Anenden noted that both King Charles and Queen Camilla maintain strict dietary habits, typically consuming small portions rather than large plates. The chef suggested that this level of involvement in menu planning may offer the monarch a sense of personal agency amidst the structured protocols of royal life.