From Linseed Breakfast To Skipping Lunch: Know All About King Charles' Food Habits

Linseed or Flaxseed, the nutritious seeds derived from the flax (Linum usitatissimum) plant, serves a dual purpose as both a health-conscious food and a valuable source of linseed oil. Tracing its consumption back to ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, flaxseed has experienced a resurgence in popularity, now hailed as a potential "superfood" due to its notable levels of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Linseed is also an integral part of King Charless III’s diet as per Express UK.

In her book 'The Palace Papers,' renowned royal biographer Tina Brown also recounts an amusing incident involving Prince William and guest Stephen Fry. During a breakfast buffet at Highgrove, Prince William humorously cautioned guests to steer clear of his father's linseed breakfast, likening it to "bird food." Brown detailed the scene, narrating how Fry, inspecting the buffet, lifted a tureen containing King Charles's favored pile of linseed. Prince William quipped, "Oh no, don't go near the bird table, Stephen, that's only for Pa," as described in Brown's book.

Leading nutritionist Signe Svanfeldt in a conversation with Express UK, explained the diet that the monarch follows including his unusual breakfast.

“Linseed can aid digestion and is high in protein, fibre and essential fatty acids (omega-3). For breakfast, King Charles is known to enjoy homemade bread, fresh fruit and fruit juices - which have many nutritional benefits. Home-made bread typically contains more nutrient-rich flours such as rye and spelt plus fibre- and protein-rich seeds, including psyllium or linseed. Fresh fruit and fruit juices will help to boost the King’s vitamin, mineral and fibre intake,” Signe Svanfeldt explained.

King Charles' former press secretary Julian Payne had also once told The Mirror that the monarch does not eat lunch at all. “The King doesn’t eat lunch; so, an early lesson I learnt when out on the road with him was to have a big breakfast or bring a few snack bars with you to keep you going. The working day is pretty relentless. Beginning with the radio news headlines and a breakfast of seasonal fruit salad and seeds with tea,” Julian Payne said.

On the absence of lunch from the King’s diet, the nutritionist opines, “The only ‘right way’ is what suits your lifestyle needs, which is what King Charles does and it works for him. Some prefer to eat many smaller meals, while others prefer to have fewer larger ones."

In a 2021 BBC interview, King Charles revealed his dietary routine, sharing, "For years, I haven't eaten meat and fish on two days a week, and I don't eat dairy products on one day a week." Nutrition expert Ms Svanfeldt praised this strategy, stating, "King Charles's love for plant-based food increases his dietary fiber, decreases saturated fats, and reduces his carbon footprint. Reducing animal-based products instead of eliminating them entirely is a sustainable approach, allowing moderation and enjoyment of preferred foods. Changing your diet to lower your carbon footprint is simpler than you think—start by reducing meat intake and incorporating more root vegetables, beans, lentils, and whole grains."