After months of anticipation, the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is over. Before heading to their formal sit-down dinner reception in the evening, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex headed off to a lunchtime reception with 600 guests. The lunch, which was hosted by Queen Elizabeth, took place at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. Kensington Palace has shared the full menu-and it's surprisingly healthy!
Guests are being served easy-to-eat hand-held foods that, according to Delish, include several "classically British" dishes:
- Scottish Langoustines wrapped in Smoked Salmon with Citrus Crème Fraiche
- Grilled English Asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian Ham
- Garden Pea Panna Cotta with Quail Eggs and Lemon Verbena
- Heritage Tomato and Basil Tartare with Balsamic Pearls
- Poached Free Range Chicken bound in a Lightly Spiced Yoghurt with Roasted Apricot
- Croquette of Confit Windsor Lamb, Roasted Vegetables and Shallot Jam
- Warm Asparagus Spears with Mozzarella and Sun-Blush Tomatoes
- Fricassee of Free Range Chicken with Morel Mushrooms and Young Leeks
- Pea and Mint Risotto with Pea Shoots, Truffle Oil and Parmesan Crisps
- Ten Hour Slow Roasted Windsor Pork Belly with Apple Compote and Crackling
This menu would make any nutritionist smile. Lean proteins like poached free-range chicken and smoked salmon were paired with tonnes of fresh, seasonal vegetables, including asparagus, garden peas, and leeks. Though richer items like pork belly and lamb are present as well, the meal is overall very balanced, and UK-sourced seasonal veggies are still the star of the culinary show.
The healthy choices have Markle's influence written all over them. The Duchess told Best Health in 2016 that she follows a vegan diet-most of the time: "I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends," she said. In an interview with Delish, she revealed she doesn't turn to coffee for her afternoon pick-me-up-she instead has a green juice. And if rumours are to be believed, she convinced her now-husband to give up his pizza habit.
Harry and Meghan aren't the first royal couple to feature healthy eats at their wedding reception. William and Kate served salmon, crab, herb salad, and spring vegetables after their 2011 nuptials. But looking back further than that, the Royals have a, shall we say, richer history. Lamb has appeared on practically every menu, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's fruitcake was 9 feet tall and weighed over 220kgs.
(h/t Delish)
Newsletter
