12/10/2025
Princess Diana was not particularly fond of cooking and was not known for her culinary skills. In a 1981 pre-wedding interview, when asked about her cooking abilities, she reportedly responded with a lighthearted admission that she wasnβt very adept in the kitchen, suggesting it was not a passion or strength of hers. Her former personal chef, Darren McGrady, who cooked for her at Kensington Palace, noted that she relied heavily on his services, preparing meals for her five nights a week and leaving prepared dishes with microwaving instructions for weekends. McGrady also mentioned that Princess Diana βwasnβt a good cook,β reinforcing that cooking was not something she enjoyed or excelled at.
Instead, Princess Diana focused on enjoying healthy, flavorful meals tailored to her preferences, often requesting low-fat versions of dishes to maintain her fitness. Her interest in food was more about eating well and sharing meals with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, rather than preparing them herself. For example, she would occasionally take her sons to McDonaldβs for a treat, prioritizing their enjoyment over cooking at home. Overall, cooking was not an activity she liked or engaged in significantly, as her lifestyle and royal duties leaned on professional chefs to handle meal preparation.