Princess Anne is widely regarded as one of the hardest-working members of the royal family.And it seems her resilient efforts to pitch in when it comes to supporting her brother, King Charles, extend beyond royal engagements.
According to one of the royal family's former chefs, Anne was also incredibly conscientious in the kitchen, often offering help where possible.
Chef Darren McGrady, who spent 15 years working for the late Queen Elizabeth, has shared a glimpse into what it was really like cooking for the royals at Balmoral, as the family prepare to descend on the Scottish residence for their annual summer gathering.
Prince Anne's helping hand
He revealed that Princess Anne was one of the most helpful members of the royal family. "You’d often get Princess Anne to come down to the kitchen and say: 'I’m in charge of the first course tonight, what can I take?'" Darren said, per FoodBible.
Meanwhile, the late Prince Philip was also keen to chip in where possible, with Darren calling him the "most passionate of cooks in the kitchen".
© Getty ImagesThe Queen's husband was apparently a big fan of outdoor cooking and had a penchant for preparing fresh ingredients from the garden. He said Philip would often ask what would be used to marinate the food to ensure it had the best flavour.
According to the chef, Philip would often take a stroll through the garden to find which produce could be used in the meal, and would sometimes offer to take charge of the main course.
Prince Edward, he said, was known for having a sweet tooth, often asking staff to spruce up pancake batter by adding strawberries and raspberries from the garden and pairing the dish with ice cream.
This comes after it was announced earlier this week that Balmoral had now shut its doors to the public ahead of the royal family visit.
© Getty ImagesThe royal family's summer plans
As the royal family get ready to retreat to the 50,000-acre estate in Aberdeenshire for the summer, the grounds will no longer be open to the public. Balmoral Castle's official website states that visitors are welcome to the grounds, gardens, and exhibitions from 28 March to 9 August, after which the castle will close its gates ahead of the royal family's arrival."
© Getty ImagesThe grounds, gardens, Mews Gift Shop, Restaurant and Ballroom Exhibition are now open daily until Sunday 9th August," the notice reads. From 10 August, the estate will remain temporarily closed to visitors for the duration of the summer.
The grounds are expected to reopen for the autumn season from early October.Balmoral has been a beloved holiday home for the family ever since it was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1852. Nestled within the Cairngorms National Park, it has served as a private sanctuary for the royals to spend their summer in the Scottish Highlands each year.
Balmoral was the last royal residence Queen Elizabeth stayed at before her death on 8 September 2022. In a heartfelt message following his mother's passing, Charles expressed his affection for the Scottish residence and its significance to his family.
