Prince William and Prince Harry grew up in Kensington Palace with a team of dedicated staff fulfilling their needs – including several top chefs. But their mother Princess Diana was always keen to try and give them the most “normal” upbringing as possible by treating them like most children and taking them out for some fast food. Former Royal Family chef Darren McGrady how was left surprised when she came into the kitchen at the Palace and announced she was popping to McDonald’s with William and Harry.

I remember the Princess came into the kitchen one day and said, ‘Cancel lunch for the boys I’m taking them out, we’re going to McDonald’s

Darren McGrady

He had insisted he would make burgers for the children at home.

But Diana was insistent on taking them to McDonald’s – but it wasn’t specifically for a Big Mac or some Chicken McNuggets.

Mr McGrady told Marie Claire: “I remember the Princess came into the kitchen one day and said, ‘Cancel lunch for the boys I’m taking them out, we’re going to McDonald’s.

“And I said, ‘Oh my god your royal highness, I can do that, I can do burgers.’

“She said, ‘No, it’s the toy they want.’

“Yeah, the boys loved McDonald’s, and going out to pizza, and having potato skins—sort of the American foods. They were royal princes but had children’s palates.”

Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell told the Mirror that Diana would regularly take William and Harry out to McDonald’s on a Saturday night as part of a norm routine.

He also revealed how they were big fans of one particular television programme on that night that was hugely popular with millions of Britons.

Mr Burrell said they would order a Big Mac and chips.

Diana’s former butler told the newspaper: ”They would then come home and sit on a giant stuffed hippopotamus Diana had in front of the TV and watch Blind Date.

Mr Burrell said: “The three of them would nip to McDonald’s for a Big Mac and fries before coming back to watch Blind Date.

“All three of them would squat on this massive, stuffed hippopotamus Diana had in her sitting room.

“They loved Blind Date and I’d hear them all screaming things like “Oh don’t pick him!” and “Lorra, lorra fun”.”

Diana had ripped up the Royal Family rulebook when it came to raising William and Harry, wanting them to have the most normal upbringing possible.

Royal children had always traditionally been raised by staff at the Palace, including a huge team of trusted and dedicated nannies.

The Queen would often be away months at a time, so wasn’t hugely involved in raising her own children when they were young.

When William and Harry were born, Diana decided to take a more hands-on approach and despite being just 21-year-sold when she became a mum, she refused to leave her sons at home during Royal tours.

But her parenting plan apparently didn’t go down well with some senior members of the Royal Family – including the Queen.

Royal expert Andrew Morton claimed the monarch, during a trip to Balmoral, didn’t understand Diana’s choice of parenting – despite several housemaids being on hand to offer help.

William’s nanny was absent, so Diana took on all the childcare.

This led the Queen to reportedly say: “I don’t understand why Diana has to do this. There are millions of housemaids around.”

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