Darren McGrady, the esteemed former chef for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Harry, has offered an intriguing insight into Princess Anne’s unique snacking habits. According to McGrady, Princess Anne favors bananas that are nearly black — a preference that might surprise most.
“She almost always preferred the bananas almost black,” McGrady revealed. The reason? Overripe bananas digest more easily. These darkened fruits, often dismissed as past their prime, actually offer distinct nutritional advantages.
Bananas are well known for their rich content of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. As they ripen and darken, the starch in bananas converts into sugars, which can make them sweeter and potentially more appealing. This process may also aid digestion, a benefit recognized by health experts, including those at Healthline.
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Many people report that brown bananas are gentler on their digestive system. However, those with digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience the opposite. It’s important to carefully check darker bananas before eating. Avoid bananas that show signs of spoilage—such as mold, leaking liquid, or foul odors—as these indicate the fruit is no longer safe to consume.
McGrady also shared a quirky detail about Queen Elizabeth II’s banana-eating etiquette. She reportedly enjoyed eating bananas with a knife and fork, carefully snipping off the ends, peeling the skin down the middle, and slicing the fruit into neat rounds. Pears were treated with similar delicacy. According to McGrady, the royal purveyor would supply around 200 pears for selection by hand, identifying only the ripest fruits. The queen would then slice off the top and eat a pear with a teaspoon, much like a boiled egg.
Princess Anne’s choice of darkened bananas emphasizes how sometimes, the most humble foods can hold special benefits, even within royal circles. Next time you see bananas turning black, consider giving them a try—you might find them easier to digest and tastier than you expected.