Though King Charles is known for being rather fussy when it comes to his food, whether that's the specific way that he likes his eggs done or the unusual snack that he takes with his afternoon tea, there are some divisive foods to which he is known to take a liking.
One of these was accidentally let slip by the royal family when the 77-year-old was seen arriving for the first show of London Fashion Week on Thursday, 19 February. In the car door, fans caught a sneak peek of the snack that the King was carrying with him – and it may come as a rather surprising choice from him!
© GC ImagesIn multiple photographs, a packet of liquorice can be seen in the car door as it is being opened. Even more controversially, it doesn't seem to be a sweeter or more conventional allsorts pack, but rather just the traditional, old-fashion liquorice sticks. They appear to be a bag of RJ's liquorice, which typically retail for £3.99.
BANT-registered nutritionist Charlotte Faure Green spoke exclusively to HELLO! about why liquorice is so divisive, citing the "bold and slightly medicinal flavour". She explained to us: "It contains glycyrrhizin, which can increase our stress hormone, cortisol, and when eaten regularly in large amounts may raise blood pressure and lower potassium.
"So for King Charles, it is best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than something to reach for during stressful weeks," the nutrition expert concluded.
King Charles' other surprising snack
Another one of the King's favourite snacks was revealed by his son, Prince Harry, in his tell-all memoir, Spare, where the 41-year-old shared insight into an afternoon tea he had with his father at Clarence House, on the occasion where he first introduced the monarch to his now-wife, Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex wrote: "We came to a round table laid with a white cloth. Beside it stood a trolley with tea: honey cake, flapjacks, sandwiches, warm crumpets, crackers with some creamy spread, shredded basil – Pa's favourite."
Most parts of the meal are quite conventional for an afternoon tea, but the creamy spread and shredded basil appear to be unusually specific. Charlotte also spoke to us about Charles' choice, calling it an "understated" addition that slots perfectly into a typical afternoon tea.
She explained: "Afternoon tea calls for a variety of little bites that offer a brief pause in the day without tipping you over into a food slump," she explains. "A crisp cracker with something creamy on top does that – the spread is usually something like ricotta or a soft herby cheese, so a tasty bite without being too heavy."
