Turkey has been dropped from the Christmas dinner menu at King Charles III's Highgrove Estate, with visitors offered cheaper chicken instead. The traditional festive staple, popularised by Queen Victoria, will no longer feature at the annual Christmas lunch in the Orchard Room restaurant, where all proceeds go to charity.
Menu changes at Highgrove
Instead of turkey, diners will be offered crispy skin chicken supreme, served with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, honey roast garden root vegetables and cranberry sauce. Alternatives include slow braised beef or Christmas vegetable wellington as a main dish.
Starters include cured chalk stream trout or roast parsnip velouté, while desserts feature Highgrove Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and orange compote. A third course costs an extra £10.
Price rises and royal history
The cost of a two-course dinner has risen by £5 on last year's price to £65. This year's dinner is also 56% more expensive than in 2024, when two courses cost £41.50. Two years ago, diners enjoyed "roast ballotine of Turkey wrapped in streaky smoked bacon with crispy roast potatoes, root vegetables, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and gravy".
The royal connection with turkey dates back to Henry VIII, believed to be one of the first English monarchs to eat turkey at Christmas. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol of 1843, in which Ebenezer Scrooge sends a turkey to the Cratchit family, also boosted its popularity.
Booking details and shop opening
Highgrove said: "Gather family and friends to celebrate the festive season with lunch at Highgrove and enjoy a sumptuous two- or three-course set menu inspired by the flavours of Christmas."
Bookings can be made from 25 November to 20 December, with diners given two hours for their meal. They are warned they cannot decide on the day to have three courses if not pre-booked. The Highgrove Christmas Shop at The Coronation Pavilion will also be open for late present ideas, including homeware, food and drink, and artwork by the King.
