Princess Catherine’s strict eating and drinking rules revealed

“That’s why food is treated so carefully, especially in the days leading up to big appointments. Anything that carries even a relatively small chance of causing food poisoning, stomach upset or digestive problems is carefully assessed and in many cases avoided altogether. The idea is simple: why take an unnecessary risk when there are so many responsibilities that depend on your fitness and well-being?

“It’s not about being overly restrictive or living under constant rules. It’s about minimizing avoidable problems. Catherine has commitments that require her to meet people, speak in public and travel a lot, so maintaining her health is seen as an important part of the role.”

The insider added: “Most people can get sick if they feel unwell. For a senior member of the royal family, it’s much more complicated than that. There are security arrangements, diplomatic considerations, media commitments and thousands of people who may have been preparing for months for a visit. That’s why precautions, even seemingly small ones when it comes to food and drink, are taken very seriously behind the scenes.”

Garlic and raw onions would also be largely absent from Catherine’s diet when she makes public appointments.

The restriction stems from concerns about persistent breath odors during meetings and official receptions.

Queen Camilla, 78, acknowledged the practice during an appearance on MasterChef Australia when she said, “Garlic is a no-no… You should always leave the garlic.”

Catherine is also banned from eating foie gras at royal residences following a long-standing policy introduced by King Charles, 77.

The luxury dish, made from the liver of force-fed ducks or geese, was effectively removed from royal menus due to animal welfare concerns.

Spicy food occupies a more complicated place in Catherine’s diet.

Although heavily spiced meals are often avoided on official tours because they can cause digestive problems, the princess has previously revealed that she likes the heat when cooking at home.

In 2019, she said: “It’s so hard to cook curry with the family… the kids get a portion without spices, (William’s) is medium. And I like it quite hot. Charlotte handles heat quite well.”