Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has shared the breakfast his mother loves
Contrary to the idea that Royal mornings start with lavish feasts, Tom Parker Bowles has revealed that Queen Camilla, his mother, opts for a much simpler breakfast when the weather turns cold.
He shared that, while the dish itself is modest, the Queen adds a spoonful of a homemade ingredient she keeps in her kitchen to elevate it. The simple breakfast choice is one that the British Heart Foundation says is great for heart health and boasts high fibre content.
In his book, ‘Cooking & The Crown‘ published in 2024, Tom said: “In winter, my mother, Queen Camilla, eats porridge every day – plain, aside from a little of her own honey. The hives sit at the back of a field at Raymill, the house in which my sister and I spent the latter part of our youth.”
He then continued: “[The honey] is delicate and mild, as fine stirred into a good Darjeeling tea as it is mixed with porridge or yoghurt.”
As noted, the British Heart Foundation has ranked porridge as more heart-healthy than granola, cornflakes, muesli, and bran flakes. This is mainly because it contains beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that can help lower cholesterol when you consume at least 3g per day as part of a balanced diet.
Queen Camilla is said to make her porridge with full-fat milk and a pinch of salt, but the British Heart Foundation recommend using water or low-fat milk instead, and adding fruit like bananas for natural sweetness.
The BHF experts previously advised: “As well as beta-glucan, you’ll be getting the fibre from the whole grains, plus there is no added sugar or salt. Instead of adding sugar or salt to your porridge for flavour – instead, try adding a banana or other fruits for extra sweetness.
“For every 80g that you add it will be one of your five-a-day at the same time.” Beyond this, it’s worth noting that other scientific research has also found a connection between honey consumption and heart health.
In 2020, one study claimed that honey could be a “potential candidate to be explored further as a natural and dietary alternative to the management of cardiovascular disease”.
Scientists found evidence that honey may help protect the heart and reduce damage during heart problems. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
Tom’s book ‘Cooking and The Crown’ is a culinary homage to over a century of Royal dining, from the days of Queen Victoria to our present King Charles III. It spans extravagant meals like ‘Pommes Elizabeth’ and ‘Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises’, while also featuring an array of classic yet straightforward dishes you can try at home. More information can be found here.
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