Your Culinary World

Royal Wedding Menu Trends Past and Present

Though there are many still wondering about who will design Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, chefs worldwide are looking for which culinary trends will be set by Kate and William’s elaborate wedding. And as in any royal event, the past is always the most appropriate starting point when seaching for new traditions.

In 1923 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the future Queen Mother) married Prince Albert, who would become King George VI after his brother King Edward VIII abdicated to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Recently the Oscar winning movie, The King’s Speech, depicted the amazing relationship between this lovely Scottish lady and the Prince that won her heart. At their wedding each dish was named after a member of the royal family: Consomme a la Windsor, Supremes de Saumon Reine Mary, Cotelettes d’Agneau Prince Albert, Chapons a la Strathmore and Fraises Duchesse Elizabeth.

When their daughter, the then Princess Elizabeth, married her prince, Philip Mountbatten of Greece in 1947, she was facing the crushing austerity of the years that followed World War II in England. With a nod to the difficulties faced by the common citizens of Britain at that time, the menu was a more restrained one that included Filet de Sole Mountbatten and Perdreau en Casserole. But even in those dark days, a wedding is still a wedding and needs a touch of grace and elegance. And so a stunning ice cream dish, a Bombe Glacee Princesse Elizabeth made with rare out of season strawberries, was served as a finishing touch.

On the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952 Princess Elizabeth became the Queen of England and remains so today. Together she and Prince Philip had four children – Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

Anne, the Princess Royal, would be the first to marry in 1973, not to a prince but to a commoner then a lieutenant in Queen’s own Dragoon Guards, a Mr. Mark Phillips. Later commissioned a captain, he was the first commoner to marry a member of the royal family in 200 years!

Their lavish Westminster wedding was a grand gala watched on television by an estimated 500 million people around the world. Equally extravagant was the feast served at their post wedding reception which featured lobster and partridge, not to mention a towering five foot six inch wedding cake – exactly the height of the newly married princess.

In 1981 Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the English throne, would marry the lovely Lady Diana Spencer again as millions watched and wished them well and long life.

Yet despite a fairytale gown and 27 stunning wedding cakes (!), the marriage of the young and beautiful Diana and Prince Charles ended sadly in a bitter divorce and, ultimately, a tragic car wreck that shocked the world.

This week another charming couple will wed in London’s grandest cathedral. Whether they will copy Diana’s wedding menu of chicken stuffed with lamb mousse (a la Princess of Wales) or brill in a rich lobster sauce, one can only hope that the greatest trend they share with everyone will be a fresh belief that Love should be mixed with maturity and tended with care and insight.

Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2011

Kate and William Put Together All the Ingredients for a Successful Wedding

Kate Middleton and Prince William have been very busy arranging the many details of their upcoming grand gala wedding. Yet often overlooked, amidst the hustle and bustle of the rehearsals and gown fittings, is another fascinating tale – the story of how Kate and William have been quietly and wisely planning their life together, after the cheering stops and the TV cameras go away.

For some time Prince William has been quietly living on the remote Welsh island of Anglesey, working as a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot. With about as many sheep as people, this wind swept western island isn't the “standard” royal residence that an heir to the English throne usually brings a beautiful young bride to – unless you stop and appreciate the wise choices this royal couple is quietly making.

Since 2010 William has been living off base in Anglesey in a rented cottage not far from RAF airfield, on the southwest side of the island near a lovely three-mile stretch of sea-washed sand called Llanddwyn Beach. Kate has often joined him there. Together they’ve enjoyed drinks at the local pub and shopped for groceries just like any other young couple planning a life together.

And though their ever-present security detail might be hovering nearby, the local Welsh folk let them move undisturbed through their day. Here Kate can stroll without the crush of paparazzi documenting which designer sweater she’s not wearing. And William, known as “Flight Lieutenant Wales“ to his base buddies, can even drive himself to work without a security detail clearing the streets ahead of him.

All of this precious normalcy is made in large part possible because of a Welsh concept known as “parchus”. Unique to the Welsh language, it can loosely be translated as “a respectful independence of distance". And surely that seems to be what Kate and William want, including the fact that pre and post wedding they are doing their own washing, cleaning and cooking – in short, no gossiping or graveling servants.

A royal with no servants? Amazing as William’s father, Prince Charles, has over 150 supportive staff members. One can only applaud the free and modern spirit of this young royal couple who have no intension of repeating the tragic mistakes of the past.

Together they are seeking to establish a firm and realistic foundation to their marriage and that includes home cooked meals enjoyed together. So which cookbooks might a modern princess need? Well, most possibly something hip and with the times but also with a touch of tradition. Here’s just a few suggestions: