Do William and Kate cook for themselves?

As members of the British royal family, Prince William and Kate Middleton have access to palace chefs and staff who can prepare meals for them. However, there are indications that the couple also enjoys cooking for themselves and their children on occasion. This article will explore what is known about William and Kate’s cooking habits and whether they make their own meals.

Table of Contents

Quick Answers

Do William and Kate have personal chefs?

Yes, William and Kate can access chefs in the royal kitchens who can prepare meals for them and their family. However, they also seem to enjoy cooking themselves.

Have William and Kate talked about cooking?

Yes, both William and Kate have mentioned in interviews that they enjoy cooking and have highlighted some of their favorite meals to prepare. Kate in particular has said she loves baking with her children.

Do they cook every day?

It’s unlikely William and Kate cook every day. With their busy royal schedules, it would be difficult to find time to cook three meals every single day. They probably rely on staff to help with some meals but also set aside time for family cooking.

What meals do they like to make?

Some of William and Kate’s preferred home-cooked meals include roast chicken, pasta dishes, curry, pizza, and baked goods. Kate enjoys baking cakes with their children. William has said he tried to make Kate his famous chocolate biscuit cake for their wedding.

Evidence William and Kate Cook for Themselves

There are several examples that indicate Prince William and Kate Middleton enjoy cooking and will prepare some of their own meals when they can:

During an engagement in 2019, Kate told a member of the public that she had been up early that morning making her children their favorite pancakes for breakfast.
For Prince George’s 6th birthday in 2019, Kate and William were reported to have hosted a tea party for his school friends where Kate baked cupcakes.
In an interview dating back to their engagement in 2010, William said he’d been trying to teach himself to cook and had been learning some of Kate’s favorite dishes. He specifically mentioned wanting to perfect a chocolate biscuit cake to make for Kate for their wedding.

Kate has mentioned on several occasions that she loves to garden and cook using fresh herbs and vegetables she’s grown herself.
During the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, William shared that he and Kate had been homeschooling their kids and cooking more family meals than usual.
For her first Christmas with the royal family in 2011, Kate was said to have prepared homemade chutneys to give out as gifts to the Queen and senior royals.

Clearly William and Kate take joy in preparing some special meals themselves and involving their children in cooking when possible. With their schedules they can’t do this every day, but they make an effort when they can.

Kate Middleton’s Favorite Foods to Cook

Kate has shared in several interviews and engagements some of her favorite meals and baked goods to prepare for her family:

Roasted chicken – simple and classic

Curries – Indian cuisine is one of Kate’s favorites
Pasta dishes
Pizza – great for getting the kids involved

Salads using fresh garden herbs and vegetables
Cupcakes and cakes – especially with the kids
Homemade chutneys

The Duchess seems to enjoy both elegant dishes like roasted chicken and curries, as well as simpler comfort foods like pizza that will appeal to her children. Baking also appears to be a favorite pastime when she has the time.

Prince William’s Favorite Meals to Cook

Prince William hasn’t shared quite as many details about his personal cooking preferences, but there are a few dishes he’s mentioned enjoying to make:

Spaghetti bolognese

Cottage pie
Chocolate biscuit cake – this is reportedly one of his specialties he first tried to make for Kate before their wedding

In general, William seems to favor hearty, flavorful comfort foods like pasta dishes, pies, and cakes. This contrasts to Kate’s lighter salads and roasted chicken. William has suggested before that his skills in the kitchen still need some work compared to Kate’s baking talents.

Do They Cook Together as a Family?

There are a few examples that suggest Prince William and Kate enjoy cooking together as a family:

During the pandemic in 2020, William said he and Kate were spending more time together in the kitchen and enjoying eating dinner as a family each night.
For George’s birthday in 2019, it was reported that Kate had spent time baking with both George and Princess Charlotte.

Kate has mentioned involving Prince Louis in baking and decorating cakes and cookies.
Pictures of their country home suggest a spacious kitchen designed for spending time cooking and baking as a family.

Cooking and baking seem to be activities both William and Kate enjoy sharing with their children. They likely see time spent together in the kitchen as a way to bond as a family amid their busy schedules.

Family Member	Favorite Meals to Cook
Kate Middleton	Roasted chicken, curries, pasta, pizza, salads, cakes
Prince William	Spaghetti bolognese, cottage pie, chocolate biscuit cake

How Often Might They Cook for Themselves?

It’s difficult to know exactly how often Prince William and Kate cook for themselves and their family. However, there are a few clues:

As senior working royals, they have very busy schedules filled with royal engagements and obligations.
When at home, they likely spend a good amount of time parenting and caring for their three young children.

They have access to excellent chefs and kitchen staff who can prepare meals if needed.
Reports of them cooking and baking seem to often coincide with weekends, holidays, or lighter schedules.

The evidence suggests that while they might not cook daily, they do seem to enjoy preparing meals themselves a few times a week when their schedule allows. Weekends and holidays when they are spending time together at home as a family appear to be common times for William and Kate to get into the kitchen.

Where Do They Cook?

Prince William and Kate have access to multiple royal residences, so they have a few options of kitchens where they can enjoy cooking:

Kensington Palace Apartment 1A – Their London home features a spacious, high-end kitchen.
Anmer Hall – Their country estate in Norfolk likely features a large country kitchen perfect for family cooking.

Buckingham Palace – When staying with the Queen they would have access to the palace kitchens.
Holiday homes – The family often visits Kate’s parents where they could use their kitchen or their holiday home on the Isles of Scilly.

Most evidence points to Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall being the main spots where the family cooks together. The country kitchen at Anmer Hall seems especially well-suited for this family activity when they are out of the public eye.

Role of Palace Chefs and Kitchen Staff

As senior royals living primarily at Kensington Palace, Prince William and Kate have access to experienced chefs and kitchen staff:

There are multiple chefs on staff in the royal kitchens who can prepare anything requested by the family.
Having trained chefs available likely makes cooking less of a necessity day-to-day.

Chefs probably prepare many meals during the work week when schedules are busiest.
However, William and Kate seem to enjoy cooking themselves when they have free time on weekends and holidays.
Baking birthday cakes or holiday meals seems to be something they like to take on themselves.

So while they have excellent kitchen staff available, the evidence indicates William and Kate still want to be hands-on cooking for their family when their schedule allows. For them, it seems to be an enjoyable activity for spending time together.

How Do They Get Groceries and Ingredients?

As part of the royal household, Prince William and Kate have staff who can handle grocery shopping and ensure their kitchens are always stocked:

A household employee such as a chef or kitchen manager likely handles grocery lists and food orders.

Ingredients and kitchen equipment can be ordered from top specialty purveyors.
Food deliveries are made to the household on a regular basis.
Baked goods and sweets for children’s birthdays may be ordered from top bakeries.

Fresh produce likely comes from trusted organic farms.
Kate may also grow some herbs and vegetables in her gardens for cooking.

While regular shopping trips are not necessary, it seems Kate and William still enjoy trips to local shops, markets, and farms – they may pick up a few favorite ingredients on these visits. Overall though, their kitchens are likely always stocked with high quality ingredients.

Do They Have Cookbooks?

William and Kate probably have access to extensive cookbook collections, both personal and in the royal kitchens:

The royal libraries likely contain extensive cookbook collections.
They may receive cookbooks as gifts from the public.

Kate probably has favorite cookbooks she uses regularly.
As a professional chef, one of the royal chefs may have published cookbooks they use.
They can also access any cookbook digitally or order custom copies.

Some have speculated Kate may enjoy English cookbooks by authors like Mary Berry and Nigella Lawson. She also likely appreciates books with an emphasis on fresh, healthy family recipes. With unlimited resources available, it’s likely William and Kate have access to any cookbook they could want for inspiration.

How Else Might They Get Cooking Ideas?

In addition to cookbooks, Prince William and Kate have other ways they can get recipe ideas and cooking inspiration:

From the royal chefs and kitchen staff.

Getting recipes from friends and family.
Online recipes, blogs and videos.
Social media accounts from chefs and cooking brands.

Food TV shows.
Classes – Kate took a cooking class while dating William.
Restaurants where they eat.

Travel to different countries and cuisines.
Cookware brands likely provide them products and recipes.

Although they have extensive resources, William and Kate seem to enjoy more everyday ways of finding recipes to try at home with their family. Getting ideas from online sources, TV shows, or their own travels and experiences appears more aligned with their cooking preferences.

Do They Cook For The Queen or Other Family Members?

It seems unlikely that Prince William and Kate would personally cook for Queen Elizabeth II or other senior royal family members:

The Queen has an extensive team of chefs dedicated to preparing her meals and accommodating her preferences.
There are chefs assigned to cook for all senior royals whenever needed.

Formal dinners at residences like Buckingham Palace are meticulously planned by staff.
Family gatherings likely have chefs handling all food preparation.
Holidays like Christmas are carefully coordinated by the Queen’s team of chefs and kitchen staff.

William and Kate would not be expected or required to prepare meals themselves for family events or gatherings with the Queen and other royals. However, they may bring along homemade dishes, baked goods or preserves as personal gifts on occasion. But day-to-day cooking for the royal family would be left to the professionals.

Have They Cooked For Other World Leaders?

It’s highly unlikely that Prince William and Kate would be responsible for preparing meals for world leaders or foreign dignitaries during official state visits or tours:

Royal banquets and state dinners are entirely planned and executed by palace professionals.

Gifts of food or drink given on tours are carefully selected ahead of time.
There is extreme care taken around food preparation and security for world leaders.
If hosting personal friends or informal gatherings, chefs would still likely prepare all meals.

William and Kate may contribute favorite recipes, but kitchen staff executes them.

Providing homemade food directly from senior members of the royal family could pose etiquette and security issues. Instead, professional royal staff ensure all food protocol and preparation meets the highest standards when hosting foreign dignitaries and leaders.

Have They Ever Cooked Professionally?

There is no evidence that either Prince William or Kate Middleton have ever worked in a professional chef capacity:

As working royal family members, they have never held traditional jobs.
Prior to her marriage, Kate worked briefly for her parents’ company and for Jigsaw fashion brand.
William trained in the military and worked as a pilot for a time.

They have not been reported taking any professional culinary training.
Their cooking experience seems limited to personal family meals at home.

William and Kate’s cooking experience appears to be primarily as home cooks preparing meals for each other and their children. They seem to enjoy dabbling in cooking as a hobby when their royal schedules allow, but have never worked as professional chefs.

Any Interesting Anecdotes or Stories Related to Their Cooking?

A few interesting stories that provide insight into William and Kate’s cooking habits include:

For a party in college, Kate reportedly made a lavish three-course meal for William with fig and parma ham salad, fish pie, and banoffee pie.
William proposed to Kate during a private vacation in Kenya where they were staying in an isolated cabin and had to cook for themselves.

During their engagement interview, William said he was learning to cook “anything that doesn’t bite back” but starting with Kate’s favorites.
Reportedly early in their relationship, Kate brought William meals like homemade chicken pie to his barracks to spend time together around cooking.
When living together at university, William and Kate would browse supermarkets together looking for deals and meal ideas.

These stories reveal how cooking has always been a way for the couple to connect and spend quality time together, right from the early days of their relationship through to married life.

Have They Ever Publicly Cooked or Baked?

Although they enjoy cooking in private, there are very few instances of William and Kate cooking publicly:

In 2019, Kate and Mary Berry promoted a BBC show by appearing in a special where they baked a roulade together.

During a 2016 engagement in Canada, they took part in a cooking demonstration with young chefs.
Kate and William joined children in making pizza during a 2017 visit to the Pizzeria Restaurant in London.
They seem hesitant to participate in public cooking engagements, perhaps so they can maintain privacy around something they consider personal.

William and Kate tend to keep their cooking and baking as a private family activity. But on special occasions, they have shared a glimpse into their culinary interests through cooking segments for television or during public engagements.

Conclusion

Prince William and Kate have access to world-class chefs and kitchen staff to prepare meals if needed. However, evidence indicates they both enjoy getting into the kitchen themselves to cook for each other and their children when schedules allow. Kate seems especially partial to baking cakes and other sweets while William likes hearty dishes like shepherd’s pie. They use cooking and baking as an opportunity to spend quality time together as a young family. And while cooking professionally is not in the cards, they find it a relaxing and rewarding activity to take on privately in their spare time when not busy with royal duties. For William and Kate, cooking nutritious family meals seems to provide comfort, normalcy, and connection.