'A slap in the face': Knives are out as former royal chef Darren McGrady fumes over alleged King Charles III snub to palace kitchen staff
Darren McGrady, who spent years cooking for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Harry, publicly criticised the King after celebrated French chef Raymond Blanc was brought in to help create the menu for Tuesday night's banquet at Windsor Castle.
"I get that Raymond Blanc is one of the best chefs in the world, and I get that he is a King's Foundation ambassador- but it's a huge slap in the face to the palace royal chefs," McGrady told The Mail.
"For sure, Macron will not be bringing in British chefs for a King Charles state visit to France."
The lavish white-tie event was held in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, who were in the UK for an official three-day state visit.
Held inside the grand St George's Hall, the banquet welcomed 160 guests seated along a 50-metre-long table adorned with royal silverware and hand-picked seasonal flowers from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
As a friend of the 76-year-old monarch and an ambassador for the King's Foundation, Blanc was invited to collaborate with the Royal Household's culinary team.
He crafted the first course and the dessert, while the main course was ultimately prepared by the palace's own head chef, Mark Flanagan.
Blanc, 75, who runs the renowned Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, defended the decision.
"We all have an opinion- and I've got a different one. I like to bring people together," he said.
He also explained why he invited Flanagan to take the reins on the main dish.
"I wanted to include Mark because he's a royal chef who's cooked for the King for many years, plus he's a great friend – it's all part of respect.
"I could have done everything if I'd insisted, but Mark did a beautiful course."
The full French-written menu included tender summer vegetables from Le Manoir's gardens with sage, raw tomato and extra virgin olive oil dressing; Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and a French-style tarragon sauce; and an iced blackcurrant parfait with elderflower jelly for dessert.
The wine list was just as grand, featuring Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Chateau Haut-Brion 1996, and Louis Roederer Carte Blanche.
A bespoke cocktail named "L'Entente" made with British gin, lemon curd, French pastis and floral garnishes, was also served.
Buckingham Palace said the collaboration reflected the "spirit of the Entente Cordiale".
King Charles and President Macron sat together at the centre of the table, alongside Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron, with other royal family members including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie also in attendance.
Celebrity guests included Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger.
During his bilingual speech, the King paid tribute to the centuries of shared heritage between Britain and France, saying: "My firm belief is that friendship between Britain and France is vital if the liberties and peace of Europe are to be preserved."
President Macron responded with a poetic reflection on the Bayeux Tapestry, which is set to be displayed in the British Museum next year.
He called the missing final scenes of the tapestry "a powerful symbol", adding: "In the great mural of Franco-British history, the end is yet to be written- it is up to us to do it."
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