Princess Anne’s very unusual breakfast that will leave royal fans retching

When you think of breakfast, images of cereal, pancakes, omelettes, or toast likely come to mind - but for Princess Anne, her breakfast choices are not for the faint-hearted.

The UK's hardest-working royal relies on a good breakfast to fuel her day, but has a peculiar request, as revealed by Palace staff.

Palace insiders have claimed although the late Queen Elizabeth's daughter likes healthy, vitamin-dense foods, she prefers to start her day with a bowl of overripe or even mouldy fruit.

As reported by the Mirror, Darren McGrady, a former chef to the royals, previously told TODAY: "Princess Anne almost always preferred the bananas almost black - overripe - because they're digested easier."

As royals prefer to traditionally eat with cutlery, there is a specific way Princess Anne, 73, needs her bananas prepared.

Darren explained: "First, the ends of the banana are cut off. Then the banana peel is sliced down the middle from end to end so the unpeeled fruit can be opened. The fruit is sliced into circles and eaten with a fork."

Lunch is a meal often skipped by the royal, possibly because of her busy schedule, but she does carry snacks with her in her handbag. Her daughter, Zara Tindall, once revealed she often carries kiwi fruit in her purse.

Also a fan of fish, Anne is also known to enjoy kippers and once sent a letter full of praise to Fortune Kippers, an old smokehouse based in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

The company's website reveals: "Members of the Royal Family have also been known to enjoy our kippers and HRH Princess Anne has written to Barry and Derek telling them how much she enjoys their kippers."

There is also one food the Princess Royal is very keen on during flights and it is a very common and simple delicacy.

Throughout the years, Princess Anne has built a reliable name for herself as one of the most hardworking royals, and that status was solidified with official data in 2023.

Analysis of royal meetings and engagements from the Sunday Telegraph found Princess Anne carried out 457 engagements in 2023, providing steadfast and reliable support for her brother King Charles.