There are many laws and regulations to follow in Buckingham Palace, even when it comes to eating. Certain ingredients are prohibited from touching the royal household's plates at Queen Elizabeth's request, with former royal chef Darren McGrady claiming that they could never "serve anything with garlic or too much onions" due to the queen's dislike of its strong flavor.
Another former royal chef, John Higgins, said that the royal family was "missing out" on what garlic can add to a dish. "The Queen is a wonderful lady, the royal family are wonderful people but they're missing out on garlic because at Buckingham Palace you don't cook with garlic," he said, adding, "I suppose, in case you get the royal burp."
During an appearance on "MasterChef Australia," Camilla Parker Bowles was asked about the garlic fiasco, to which she said, "I hate to say this, but garlic. Garlic is a no-no." Gary Mehigan, one of the judges on the show, suggested that this aversion was down to bad breath — to which the Duchess of Cornwall said, "Yes, exactly."
If you thought the ban on garlic was unusual enough, you'll be surprised to learn that it also applies to pasta and rice, which are considered "too starchy and filling," potatoes, and any fruit or vegetable that is out of season. "Try including strawberries on the menu in January and she'll scrub out the line and say don't dare send me genetically modified strawberries," Darren McGrady explained.