Princess Catherine ate crisps during a royal engagement in Sussex this week, a rare sight that surprised royal editor Rebecca English. The 44-year-old helped elderly passengers of a rural minibus service and joined them for lunch on Wednesday.
During the visit, Catherine revealed she likes crisps, particularly salted ones. When a lady named Linda asked if she ate crisps, the princess replied, "Oh, I do, and those are my favourites," before picking one up and eating it.
Soup avoided on royal engagements
Speaking on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, Ms English said: "She was so genuinely great with them, on their level, laughing, joking, eating crisps with them. I've never seen that before."
Ms English also recounted the moment with Linda: "There was a hilarious lady called Linda. You did not know what she was going to come out with, and so, for a journalist, that is brilliant. For the palace team, less so."
Asked why the princess didn't try the soup, Ms English explained that soup is often deemed a "recipe for disaster" on engagements. "So she ate one, and I don't think I've ever seen her eating on an engagement before," she added. "In fact, one of the ladies was saying to me, why doesn't she eat the soup? And I was like, 'for royals, you know, recipe for disaster, soup'."
Royal food rules
Royals typically follow major food rules during visits, especially overseas. They are usually told to avoid seafood due to the risk of falling unwell, as well as garlic and foie gras.
The King has previously avoided the seafood rule, although Queen Camilla has firmly stuck by it. Meghan Markle also revealed she likes seafood, saying it would be part of her "ideal food day".
