The British royal family has a long history of enjoying fine chocolates and confections. As the face of one of the world’s most powerful monarchies, the royals understandably have discerning taste when it comes to their indulgences. But what specific chocolate brands and products are favored in the royal households? Here we explore the chocolate preferences of Queen Elizabeth II and other senior royals throughout history.
Quick Answers:
- Queen Elizabeth II is said to enjoy Charbonnel et Walker chocolates.
- Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with a blue sapphire engagement ring nestled on white gold and milk chocolate.
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle selected a lemon elderflower cake layered with buttercream and fresh flowers for their 2018 royal wedding.
- The Queen Mother was an avid fan of chocolate biscuit cake first created by Buckingham Palace chefs.
- Cadbury was granted the Royal Warrant after supplying chocolates to Queen Victoria in the 19th century.
The Favorite Chocolates of Queen Elizabeth II
When it comes to Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned for over 70 years, her preferred chocolate is produced by the luxury English brand Charbonnel et Walker. The Queen is said to enjoy the decadent sea salt caramel chocolate truffles from the famous chocolate maker, which has held the royal warrant since 1875.
The royal warrant ensures that the Queen has a constant supply of these truffles, which are made with the finest dark chocolate and infused with sea salt to offset the sweetness of the caramel. They make the perfect treat alongside the Queen’s customary afternoon cup of tea.
In addition to the caramel truffles, Charbonnel et Walker crafts a variety of other fine chocolates and confections that are believed to be favored by the Queen. Their chocolate hampers are a traditional gift across British nobility families for any special occasion.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Chocolate Collection
In 2012, Charbonnel et Walker created a special collection to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee marking 60 years on the throne. The collection featured dark, milk, and white chocolate corgi dogs, recognizing the Queen’s beloved pets. There were also chocolate tubes adorned with colorful floral motifs and diamond emblem chocolate boxes with glossy edible finishes.
Charbonnel et Walker’s Royal Background
Charbonnel et Walker has a long history of serving British royalty dating back to the reign of King Edward VII at the beginning of the 19th century. He once proclaimed it was “the finest chocolate in London.” The brand has held royal warrants from Edward VII, George V, George VI, and now Queen Elizabeth II.
The chocolatier was originally founded in 1875 and has origins in French confectionery techniques. The chocolates are handcrafted using time-honored methods and the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world. Their connection to the royal family helped establish Charbonnel et Walker as the prime chocolate maker for nobility, politicians, and the social elite.
Prince William’s Engagement Ring for Kate Middleton
When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010, he presented her with one of the most famous pieces of jewelry of the modern royal era – her sapphire engagement ring. The eye-catching ring featured a stunning 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set on white gold.
But lesser known is the romantic story of how the ring was presented. Prince William hid Kate’s engagement ring in a box of her favorite milk chocolate treats from the British brand Cadbury. The iconic Dairy Milk chocolate bars with a glass and a half of liquid milk in every recipe were the perfect way to surprise his future bride before he got down on one knee.
Some say William chose the Cadbury chocolate presentation box as a humorous nod to their university days when Kate would often buy the prince chocolate as a little treat during their time together at St Andrews. It was a cheeky way to pop the question before embarking on their future as the eventual Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Significance of Kate’s Sapphire Engagement Ring
Beyond the chocolate hiding spot, Kate’s ring carried great significance. The striking sapphire was originally worn by William’s mother Princess Diana, with her son opting to present it to Kate to carry on his mother’s legacy. The ring has since become synonymous with Kate and is considered one of the most famous engagement rings in history.
After their royal wedding in 2011 watched by billions around the world, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would welcome three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – the newest generation of royals. But it all started with a blue sapphire ring tucked into a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar.
Chocolate Cake for Harry and Meghan’s Royal Wedding
In 2018, the royal family welcomed American actress Meghan Markle into the fold when she married Prince Harry in a lavish televised ceremony at Windsor Castle. The royal wedding featured countless traditional touches, including a spectacular lemon elderflower cake crafted by pastry chef Claire Ptak.
The spring-inspired cake consisted of three tiers of lemon sponge cake layered with lemon curd and elderflower buttercream. The white icing exterior was decorated with fresh flowers such as peonies for a romantic, rustic finish. Rather than the typical fruitcake, the lemon elderflower creation was an untraditional choice fitting for the modern couple.
But the flavor was also intended as a nod to their first romantic evening together. On their first date, Prince Harry and Meghan spent the night roasting chicken at his home. To follow up the meal, the besotted prince reportedly dashed out to the supermarket to pick up a dessert worthy of their sweet evening – a lemon elderflower cake from the Violet Bakery in East London.
The same bakery, owned by Claire Ptak, would later supply the royal wedding confection in a touching tribute to the early days of their union. Lemon elderflower cake therefore carries sweet significance for the couple who have since stepped down as senior royals and embarked on a new life abroad.
The Origins of Fruitcake at Royal Weddings
The choice to forego traditional royal fruitcake for a more modern, personal flavor was a departure from typical royal weddings. Fruitcakes have been the customary centerpiece dessert at royal weddings for more than a century. Dense dried fruitcakes encased in marzipan were believed to represent prosperity and preserve the celebration.
The tradition has origins dating back to the Victorian era when Queen Victoria chose a plum cake for her wedding to showcase royal power and wealth through expensive ingredients like citrus fruits and almonds. Fruitcakes were a fitting choice for royal celebrations given their longevity. The cake can often be preserved for months or even years after the event.
But for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, only the lemon elderflower cake was on the menu. Their flavor choice helped continue the trend towards more creativity and personalization in royal desserts.
Queen Victoria and Cadbury Chocolate
While Charbonnel et Walker chocolates may grace Buckingham Palace today, Queen Elizabeth’s ancestor Queen Victoria had different chocolate preferences. It was Cadbury, the Birmingham chocolate brand, that found favor with the 19th century monarch and sparked a loyal royal relationship that continues to this day.
In 1854, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited the model village of Bournville that was opening to house Cadbury factory workers. Then in 1860, the Queen named Cadbury the official chocolate supplier to the royal household by granting them a royal warrant. She had developed a taste for theirocoa Essence that promised to make delicious chocolate with added health benefits compared to cheaper brands cut with starch and sugar.
Part of Cadbury’s appeal was their pioneering use of quality cocoa butter within the chocolate manufacturing process. They were the first British company to use pure cocoa butter rather than substitutes like vegetable fats. This commitment to using quality ingredients likely caught the attention of the royal family.
The royal warrant from Queen Victoria helped promote Cadbury chocolates throughout the aristocracy. They were able to heavily market and advertise themselves as the chosen chocolate for the Queen herself. It catapulted the brand into greater prominence that still lives on today.
Cadbury’s Influence on British Chocolate Culture
Beyond supplying Buckingham Palace, the royal warrant from Queen Victoria also helped make Cadbury chocolates the quintessential choice for British society at large. Affordable and well-marketed as the Queen’s preference, Cadbury chocolate became inextricably linked with British chocolate culture by the early 20th century.
Cadbury’s mass production techniques, foil-wrapped offerings, and clever advertising campaigns made chocolate newly accessible to everyday Britons. Chocolate was transformed from a luxury to an affordable treat. Cadbury also pioneered chocolate assortments with mass appeal like The Cadbury’s Box in 1915 featuring different flavors.
The royal family’s taste for Cadbury enduring over generations suggests it is still considered a British classic – as evidenced by Prince William’s proposal surprise for Kate Middleton over a century after the company won over Queen Victoria.
The Queen Mother’s Favorite Chocolate Biscuit Cake
While Queen Elizabeth II favors Charbonnel et Walker truffles, her mother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had different chocolate preferences. The Queen Mother was an ardent fan of chocolate biscuit cake – so much so it has became one of the royal family recipes passed down through the decades.
Chocolate biscuit cake originated as an improvised dessert during World War II when the royal kitchens needed to adapt to food rationing and scarcity of ingredients. The simple cake contains just two main ingredients – digestive biscuits and dark chocolate.
The biscuits are crushed and combined with melted chocolate, butter, and a touch of sugar. The fudgy chocolate mixture is spooned into cake pans and left to set in a refrigerator before being topped with a chocolate ganache glaze. It’s easy to assemble but still decadent.
The Queen Mother discovered the cake when it was first created by royal chefs and later requested it often for family birthday celebrations or afternoon tea. The recipe remains popular with modern royals as well – both her grandsons Princes William and Harry chose chocolate biscuit cake for the dessert at their respective weddings.
Publication of the Royal Family Cookbook
While royal family recipes were historically tightly guarded secrets, some have entered the public domain like the Queen Mother’s famous chocolate biscuit cake. In 2019, former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady published The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining recipes from Buckingham Palace.
The cookbook shared monarch-approved recipes like chocolate biscuit cake, cinnamon apple pie toast, cucumber sandwiches and scones – shedding light on the Queen’s day-to-day favorites. McGrady spent 15 years cooking for the royal family before moving to the United States.
Beyond the recipes, his book also offers a glimpse into the royal kitchen routine. Lunch for Queen Elizabeth II often consists of four sandwiches cut into fingers along with scones and tea. Chocolate biscuit cake is now known to be the classic birthday cake request from Her Majesty.
While the royals enjoy gourmet meals, the Queen still appreciates the simplicity of tea-time fare according to her former chef McGrady.
Chocolates Fit for Royalty Today
As times and tastes have changed, the chocolate preferences of modern royals have expanded beyond traditional English companies like Cadbury and Charbonnel et Walker. Globalization makes Swiss and Belgian chocolates more accessible that were once reserved only for Europe’s royal families like Belgium’s Saxe-Coburg dynasty.
When searching for chocolate truly fit for kings and queens, here are some of the world’s most luxurious craft chocolate brands on the market today.
| Brand | Location | Chocolate Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Teuscher | Switzerland | Intricate champagne and wine truffles |
| Godiva | Belgium | Gift boxes and gold chocolate balls |
| Richart | France | Elegant flavor pairings like Szechuan peppercorn ganache |
| Debauve & Gallais | France | Hand decorated chocolates with artistic detail |
| Knipschildt Chocolatier | United States | $2,600 La Madeline au Truffe made with 70% Valrhona chocolate |
The days of royalty exclusively enjoying chocolate shipped from English shores are long gone. Now princely sums can buy confections infused with precious ingredients like gold flakes or rare spices sourced from every corner of the globe – elevating chocolate to true luxury status.
While some novelty chocolates push extravagance to the limit, the British royal family’s taste has remained relatively simple. The Queen prefers her Charbonnel et Walker treats in classic flavors like salted caramel. Prince William opted for the nostalgic Cadbury bars of his university days. And recipes like the Queen Mother’s chocolate biscuit cake still have a place in royal celebrations today.
At the end of the day, the royals appreciate quality chocolate that honors cherished family traditions – simply made but flawlessly executed.
Conclusion
The British royal family has enjoyed a centuries-long relationship with fine chocolate dating back to royal warrants for brands like Cadbury and Charbonnel et Walker. Queen Elizabeth II carries on the legacy today with her preference for their sea salt caramel truffles. Prince William and Prince Harry incorporated chocolate into their engagement and wedding desserts in modern, personal ways.
While the royals could acquire any chocolate in the world, they often gravitate back towards classic English brands that speak to their heritage. But they aren’t afraid to update tradition either, whether with a unique cake flavor like lemon elderflower or a milk chocolate proposal surprise. One thing is certain – the royal affinity for chocolate is here to stay.