From jubilees to coronations, food has always played a significant role at the United Kingdom's royal events. While signature coronation dishes didn't become a tradition until Queen Elizabeth's coronation chicken in 1953, food, with of all its symbolic meanings, has always played a role. Chad Ludington, Visiting Associate Professor of Food Studies at New York University, said that abundance was historically the norm at such events. The banquet at King George IV's coronation in 1812 included over 70 dishes and cost the equivalent of $25 million today.
"Coronation festivities, and the food that is served there, reflect not only the desires of the monarch but also the values of the time," said Ludington. He explained that the coronation chicken at Queen Elizabeth's event reflected only the partial emergence of the United Kingdom from war-time rations.
"Coronation Chicken is a little bit French, as aristocratic English—and later British—cuisine has been since the late 17th century," said Ludington, making note of the recipe's white wine and cream. "But there's also a touch of empire." This is where the dish's curry paste comes in.
King Charles III's coronation dish is coronation quiche—but what exactly does that symbolize? "It's meant to be simple, wholesome, and healthy, so its main components are spinach, fava beans, eggs, cream, milk, cheese, and tarragon," Ludington said. He added that this dish is meant to represent Charles himself, who's a flexitarian.
"Charles is a romantic about food of the past, just as he is about architecture, and he's been spreading the gospel of slow, local, and organic for decades now," he said. "He even oversees an organic farm on one of his properties which produces a line of products under the name 'Duchy Originals.'"
A recent The New York Times story notes the influence other leaders have had on how a nation eats; think of the Obamas' mission to make school lunches healthier. But unlike U.S. presidents, who have term limits, King Charles III has a much longer time to make an impact.
This raises the question, will King Charles' eating habits rub off on people's diets across the U.K.?
While the Queen enjoyed sweet treats and supposedly four drinks per day, she also had a low-carb rule. She was in power for 70 years, and her restraint with carbs didn't seem to catch on in a country where popular dishes include fish and chips and shepherd's pie.
Coronation chicken, however, has become a staple in the U.K. It was created by Rosemary Hume at Le Cordon Bleu London in 1953 and features chicken in a curry cream sauce, with rice and pea salad on the side. But beyond the Big Lunch, the coronation quiche might not have a similar fate in food history—it's been met with mixed reviews.
"I'm a historian, not a soothsayer, so I can't tell you what impact, if any, coronation quiche will have on the future of British cuisine, but it there is a wonderful irony that quiche is hard to separate from French cuisine, perhaps an indication that Britain has not left Europe after all," said Ludington, referring to Brexit. "I should also note that coronation chicken went from being a dish in itself, although served with salad, to being a favorite sandwich filling. In fact, that's the only way I've ever had it!"
