Darren McGrady, who was Queen Elizabeth II’s personal chef for 11 years, remembers an Easter holiday when Prince William scared his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie by playing a prank.

The members of the Royal Family in Britain could not be together and celebrate Easter this time around amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Royal Family has some fond memories of their past Easter holidays to fall back on. 

Meanwhile, William’s cousins Eugenie and Beatrice would not possibly look back fondly at an Easter when the Duke of Cambridge played a prank on the two of them, Mirror reports. 

Darren McGrady, the former royal chef reveals that on one occasion when all these young and excitable royals were children, he had decided to come up with a chocolate egg influenced by the famous Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme. 

He was clueless about the prank Prince Charles’ elder son was about to pull. That Easter, the egg had a clock on its top and a mouse peeping out of a mousehole.

The chef said that they had sent the egg to the royal nursery. However, it was returned only 15 minutes later. McGrady was informed by the footman that the nanny of the two princesses returned the Easter egg because Prince William got up on a chair and bit off the mouse’s head. His act scared Eugenie and Beatrice. 

The chefs had to make another mouse fast and place it in the hole before returning the egg to the nursery. He feels that the nanny made sure that William did not have access to the egg so that the incident was not repeated.

The chef narrated this incident while chatting with OK! Magazine. He revealed how the entire family gathered at Windsor to celebrate Easter. The royal kitchen used to be busy dishing out delicious Hot Cross Buns for breakfast on Good Fridays.

Darren also shared that the main course during the Easters usually comprised of “a traditional roast lamb with seasonal vegetables.” He revealed that Queen Elizabeth II insists upon her meat to be well-done. She always has the first two slices. 

Darren feels Easter is a quieter occasion for Queen Elizabeth now. Although the Queen is at self-isolation, she enjoys her walks and is not concerned about her protection officers. 

The former royal chef feels that the big kitchen will not be operational this year. As there is minimal staff on duty, the small kitchen could have been in use this Easter.

On Sunday, the royals shared their Easter wishes through their official social media accounts. Unlike other years when the entire royal family including the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William, and other royals spent their Easter holidays together, the family had a quiet celebration in different parts of the country.