Remembering cooking for baby princes William and Harry
Thank you Stephanie Allmon of the Fort Worth Star Telegram for this great piece on my cooking for William and Harry as babies. Here’s a tease, click on the link below for the full story, photos and recipes…
BY STEPHANIE ALLMON
Like every mother, the late Princess Diana wore many hats (and in her case, tiaras) when she was raising her sons, William and Harry. But she didn’t, apparently, have one to hang in the kitchen. “Princess Diana couldn’t cook,” her former chef says, laughing. “No, she couldn’t cook at all. She was just the worst cook.”
Fortunately for her and her sons, the Princess of Wales had chef Darren McGrady to take culinary control. McGrady, who now makes his home in North Texas, served as the Kensington Palace personal chef for four years until Diana’s death the summer of 1997. Before that, he cooked in the palace kitchens for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family for 11 years. He published Eating Royally, a cookbook-memoir, in 2007.
Fortunately for her and her sons, the Princess of Wales had chef Darren McGrady to take culinary control. McGrady, who now makes his home in North Texas, served as the Kensington Palace personal chef for four years until Diana’s death the summer of 1997. Before that, he cooked in the palace kitchens for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family for 11 years. He published Eating Royally, a cookbook-memoir, in 2007.
Of course, the eyes of the world are focused this week on Great Britain for the impending pitter-patter of royal feet for Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Time has called “Baby Cambridge” one of the most anticipated babies of all time.
Before heading to London himself (look for him on Today and BBC shortly after the baby is born), McGrady chatted in the kitchen of his Plano home about his memories of Diana as a young mother and about cooking for the princes — and their strict nannies — as they were growing up.
The new heir to the British throne reportedly is due Saturday, July 13 — two weeks after what would have been Diana’s 52nd birthday. The royal mum- and dad-to-be say they don’t know the sex of the baby. McGrady thinks, without a doubt, Diana would be rooting for a girl.