This Was Princess Diana's Favorite Meal

The late Lady Diana Spencer became known as the People's Princess during her marriage to Prince Charles, as the young royal was highly regarded for her kind spirit and generous nature (via CNN). When she tragically died in a Paris car crash in 1997, people across the globe were bereft at her sudden loss. Princess Diana had made a positive impact on the world around her, and, with her death, people became even more curious to learn everything they possibly could about their beloved princess.

Biographies were penned about Princess Diana, documentaries were filmed, and articles were published at length, describing everything from her charitable endeavors to her favorite songs (via Smooth Radio). Everyone wanted a glimpse into her life in an attempt to know the Princess of Wales better — a phenomenon that continues to this day, some 24 years after her untimely death. Understanding what Princess Diana was like as a person and what her preferences were helps keep her memory alive and furthers the connection people continue to feel with her after all this time.

Hello! has provided a new glimpse into the daily life of Princess Diana by detailing her favorite meal, which she requested most frequently for lunch. And we've discovered a few additional favorites that were often on her daily menu, too.

According to Darren McGrady, who served as Princess Diana's personal chef for the last four years of her life, the beloved royal preferred to eat Eggs Suzette for lunch as often as possible (via Hello!). More specifically, she enjoyed having the traditional meal on a bed of wilted spinach, as she was very mindful of her health.

If you haven't heard of Eggs Suzette before (we hadn't, either), McGrady offers a concise and delicious explanation of what the dish entails: "a baked potato scooped out with wilted spinach in the bottom and a poached egg on top and then a little hollandaise sauce, a tiny amount, with some potatoes piped around the edges."

Princess Diana would request certain recipes more often if she found them particularly enjoyable, and, in this case, Eggs Suzette became one of her favorite meals. And the dish was actually a favorite of another famous woman, though her recipe varied slightly from the one enjoyed by the princess. Jackie Kennedy made her own version of the dish using just potatoes, and the recipe for her classic Potatoes Suzette is still used by many home cooks today (via JFK Library). 

When we learned about Princess Diana's love for Eggs Suzette, we started to wonder what other meals the royal enjoyed most.

Princess Diana's personal chef, Darren McGrady, offered additional insight into her eating habits, including the fact that she refrained from eating shellfish and red meat entirely (via Marie Claire). Since this eliminates many common dishes, he had to get creative when it came to arranging meals for the People's Princess during the four years he served as her chef.

In addition to making Eggs Suzette, McGrady often prepared stuffed bell peppers. And these aren't your average stuffed peppers, either. (Would you expect any less for a princess?) McGrady would fill the bell peppers with rice, garlic, mushrooms, and zucchini before adding a layer of mozzarella cheese and parmesan on top (per Marie Claire). He would serve the peppers with a smoked tomato and pepper sauce, the perfect finishing touch. Bearing her healthy eating habits in mind, the chef also created a stuffed eggplant dish for the princess to add to her regular rotation.

Princess Diana allegedly told McGrady that she didn't understand why so many chefs served salmon, so he made sure to avoid the fish as often as possible (via Mashed). 

Given her healthy lifestyle, it's not surprising that Princess Diana only enjoyed sweet treats on occasion. However, when she did choose to indulge, her personal chef, Darren McGrady, made sure he used the exact recipe she preferred most. Apparently, her favorite dessert was a simple bread pudding that she said was the best in the world (per Southern Living).

"Bread and butter pudding was her favorite," according to McGrady (via Showbiz CheatSheet). "She would have a small portion every now and then and only when William and Harry were at home; she wouldn't request it when she was alone." We wonder if Prince Harry and Prince William still enjoy the dessert to this day.

If you'd like to recreate this royally delicious bread pudding at home, McGrady provided a step-by-step guide for Today, and it's pretty foolproof to make. We know what we're baking for our next dinner party!