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Royal Recipes - Episode Guide

Season 1

Coronations

Episode: 1x01 | Airdate: Jan 23, 2017

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Michael is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth in the historic kitchen of one of Britain's finest stately homes as they celebrate food created for the most significant royal event, the coronation.

Paul cooks up a recipe that has remained hidden in the royal archive for more than a hundred years and creates a contemporary version of coronation chicken.

Historian Polly Russell meets the daughter of one of Britain's most famous cooks and together they prepare recipes devised by Margeurite Patten for the nation on the day the Queen was crowned.

Chef Anna Haugh heads to Scotland to fish for the finest salmon, an essential ingredient on any coronation menu.

Weddings

Episode: 1x02 | Airdate: Jan 24, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh in the magnificent kitchen of one of Britain's grandest stately homes to celebrate food served at royal weddings. Anna is inspired by an Italian lamb dish served at the wedding of Queen Victoria's youngest daughter.

Food historian Dr Annie Gray meets Fiona Cairns, the baker who created the official wedding cake for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The former chef to Charles and Diana cooks the chocolate biscuit cake that Prince William chose as an alternative cake for his wedding.

Plus the programme unearths a recipe that has been hidden in the royal archive for over a hundred years. It's for a poignant pudding served at a wedding anniversary to a widowed queen.

Garden Parties and Picnics

Episode: 1x03 | Airdate: Jan 25, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth to celebrate al fresco dining, cooking food served at royal picnics and garden parties.

Paul sets up the barbecue in the grounds of a former royal palace to prepare gaelic steaks, said to be Prince Philip's signature barbecue dish.

Historian Dr Annie Gray heads to Chiswick House in South West London, the location for some of the earliest royal garden parties and she reveals just how Queen Victoria made picnics fashionable.

And Michael unearths a recipe for an apple tart from Buckingham palace kitchen maid Mildred Nicholls's notebook, dating back to the early 1900s.

Birthdays

Episode: 1x04 | Airdate: Jan 26, 2017

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Michael is joined by chef Anna Haugh at one of Britain's finest stately homes to prepare food cooked for royal birthdays, starting with the 80th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. At a family dinner at Kew Palace, her majesty enjoyed venison with juniper.

Plus Anna tries the chocolate cake said to be the royal birthday cake. It was first made at Buckingham palace for Queen Mary, the Queen's grandmother, and has been served for birthdays ever since.

India and Empire

Episode: 1x05 | Airdate: Jan 27, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth to celebrate royal food inspired by the days of India and Empire. Using recipes that have been hidden in the royal archive for over a hundred years, Paul cooks up quail and potato curry, said to be a favourite of Queen Victoria.

Historian Dr Annie Gray visits Osborne House on the Isle of Wight where Queen Victoria, Empress of India, showcased her grand passion for the raj, and even hired her own Indian chefs.

Plus Britain's first Indian Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar cooks a dish fit for an Indian president and a British queen.

Jubilee

Episode: 1x06 | Airdate: Jan 30, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by top London chef Anna Haugh to celebrate food created for royal jubilees. Anna cooks some unusual 19th-century ingredients used in a royal dish created for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. Anna then brings the recipe right up to date and prepares a delicious chocolate dessert served at the present Queen's diamond jubilee.Michael unearths a pudding recipe created for a royal jubilee which has been hidden in the Royal Archives for over a hundred years.

Historian Dr Polly Russell discovers how the town of Windsor persuaded the Queen to donate an entire ox so they could revive an ancient jubilee tradition.

Childhood

Episode: 1x07 | Airdate: Jan 31, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth in the kitchens of one of Britain's finest stately homes to celebrate food served to royal children. Paul cooks cottage pie, said to be a favourite of Prince William when he was a boy, and former royal chef Darren McGrady prepares banana flan.

Food historian Dr Annie Gray visits the Swiss Cottage that Victoria and Albert built in the gardens of Osborne House so their nine children could learn to grow food as well as cook it, and there is a look at how the Queen developed a love of kippers as a child in Windsor Castle.

Royal Haunts

Episode: 1x08 | Airdate: Feb 1, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh in the historic kitchens of one of the UK's finest stately homes to cook food enjoyed at some of the royal family's favourite haunts - dishes they have enjoyed with family and friends, at picnics and in restaurants. Anna creates a meat pudding that would have found favour with Bertie, Prince of Wales, and his mistress Lillie Langtry and cooks up a mille feuilles dessert from the recipe book of a Buckingham palace kitchen maid, hidden in the Royal Archive for over a hundred years.

Historian Dr Polly Russell visits the restaurants given the royal seal of approval in the 1950s and 60s.

Diplomatic Relations

Episode: 1x09 | Airdate: Feb 2, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth in the kitchen wing of one of Britain's grandest stately homes. Together they showcase food served at the grandest royal state banquets, as well as dishes served at more informal meetings between the Queen and visiting world leaders. Paul cooks a dish inspired by the state visit of President Obama and also prepares drop scones from a recipe that was sent by the Queen to President Eisenhower in the 1960s. Historian Matt Green learns the art of laying up a banquet table from former royal butler Grant Harrold and discovers how to sit and how to chat without breaking any royal protocols.

Country Pursuits

Episode: 1x10 | Airdate: Feb 3, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh at one of the country's finest stately homes. In the kitchen they are celebrating food served to the royal family when they are enjoying country pursuits. Anna prepares sausages made from pheasant, which is said to the Queen's favourite game bird, and cooks up a dainty pastry and marzipan dessert from the cookbook of Mildred Nicholls, a kitchen maid at Buckingham Palace in the early 1900s. Historian Matt Green tours a grand shooting estate which has historic links with the royal family and looks at photo albums showing exactly what went on. The programme also follows Prince Charles's example and goes foraging for mushrooms.

The Commonwealth

Episode: 1x11 | Airdate: Feb 6, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chefs Paul Ainsworth and Anna Haugh to showcase food inspired by the Commonwealth. The Queen is head of the political union of 52 countries and it is said that she considers it her greatest achievement. Paul is inspired by a dish served up to the Queen at a grand Commonwealth meeting in Malta, where she spent the early years of her marriage. Anna gets to cook on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, a floating palace and iconic symbol of the Commonwealth. Finally, Paul uses some of the finest ingredients from his mother's home on the Seychelles to cook up a seafood dish that's similar to those enjoyed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their honeymoon.

Day at the Races

Episode: 1x12 | Airdate: Feb 7, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh at one of Britain's grandest stately homes, to showcase the food served up to the Royal family when they enjoy a day at the races. Anna starts with a mini mutton pie a la Windsor, first served at Royal Ascot in the 1930s to King George VI. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward reveals that Prince Philip prefers to watch cricket over horses, and historian Annie Gray discovers how Edward VII, when he was Prince of Wales, combined his two great loves - racing and food.

Afternoon Tea

Episode: 1x13 | Airdate: Feb 8, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Paul Ainsworth to look at food created for the Queen's favourite meal, afternoon tea. Paul starts with a Battenburg with a twist, creating a chocolate and vanilla version of a royal favourite. He also tries a recipe for Bath buns, which was discovered tucked into the recipe book of a Buckingham palace kitchen maid in the early 20th century. Historian Dr Annie Gray tells the story of the charitable Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, who chose to treat all the poorest maids in London to a grand tea party at a bishop's palace. Plus, royal cake-maker Mich Turner recreates a masterpiece she made for the Queen, but this time in miniature.

Royal Consorts

Episode: 1x14 | Airdate: Feb 9, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chef Anna Haugh to showcase food inspired by royal consorts past and present. The dishes include a favourite of Princess Diana cooked by her former chef Carolyn Robb, a chocolatesouffle said to be enjoyed by Prince Philip and an extravagant first course named after Queen Victoria's beloved husband Albert. Plus, historian Dr Polly Russell gets cooking from our Buckingham Palace kitchen maid's notebook. She attempts to prepare a Danish pudding brought to England by Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII.

On the Move

Episode: 1x15 | Airdate: Feb 10, 2017

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Michael Buerk is joined by chefs Paul Ainsworth and Anna Haugh to showcase food inspired by the royal family's tours overseas and home lives. Paul gets inspiration from Prince Philip's younger days when he crossed the Arctic and was served a meal of caribou venison. Meanwhile, Anna travels to Scotland to find out more about the cake the Queen is said to take with her wherever she is in the world, and Atul Kochhar creates a curried mutton pie the way Prince Charles likes it. Plus historian Dr Matt Green looks at the story behind the favourite royal tipple, gin, revealing how it was brought to Britain by William of Orange.

Season 2

Exotic Flavours

Episode: 2x01 | Airdate: Nov 13, 2017

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Today on Royal Recipes, presenter Michael Buerk and chef Paul Ainsworth rustle up an exotic pudding, which was a favourite of Henry VIII's. Cake maker to the royals Mich Turner recreates Prince Charles's sumptuous birthday cake, and food historian Dr Annie Gray discovers how the royal appetite for one exotic fruit spawned a grand architectural fashion.

Breakfast and Snacks

Episode: 2x02 | Airdate: Nov 14, 2017

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On today's show, presenter Michael Buerk and chef Anna Haugh cook a dish from an Edwardian full English breakfast. Dr Polly Russell leafs through some precious manuscripts at the British Library to learn more about royal eating habits, and former royal chef Carolyn Robb cooks a loaf that's a favourite of Prince Charles's.

Great British Bounty

Episode: 2x03 | Airdate: Nov 15, 2017

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In Royal Recipes today, presenter Michael Buerk and chef Paul Ainsworth discover a favourite dish of a 14th-century king. Dr Matt Green discovers the rich culinary history of the Queen Mother's childhood home, and chef Galton Blackiston recalls a dish he created for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Pies and Puddings

Episode: 2x04 | Airdate: Nov 16, 2017

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On today's programme, presenter Michael Buerk and chef Anna Haugh knock up a fastidious queen's favourite pie. Historian Dr Polly Russell goes to Gloucester to trace the history of an ancient royal delicacy, and chef Cyrus Todiwala puts a royal twist on a classic British pudding.

Royal Visits

Episode: 2x05 | Airdate: Nov 17, 2017

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In Royal Recipes today, presenter Michael Buerk and chef Paul Ainsworth reimagine a dish served at a royal banquet to a grumpy Persian monarch in the early years of the 20th century. Dr Annie Gray climbs aboard the royal train to discover the luxury in which past monarchs travelled, and chef Rob Kennedy recreates a dish served to a prince and his parents at a Sandhurst dinner.

Episode 6

Episode: 2x06 | Airdate: Nov 20, 2017

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Today, Michael chef Anna Haugh recreate George V's favourite curry, and historian Dr Polly Russell discovers how Sir Francis Drake made a fortune for queen and country. The programme goes behind the scenes to learn the secrets of a famous condiment that has been a royal favourite since the 19th century.

Sporting Pursuits

Episode: 2x07 | Airdate: Nov 21, 2017

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In this edition, Michael and chef Paul Ainsworth recreate the pudding which was served to the Olympic Committee during Britain's successful bid. Dr Annie Gray is in Cowes to discover George V's passion for sailing, and former royal chef Carolyn Robb remembers the meal she served a prince recovering from a sporting injury.

Pomp and Circumstance

Episode: 2x08 | Airdate: Nov 22, 2017

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In this programme, Michael and chef Anna Haugh sample a luxurious dish originally created for Charles II. Wine expert Joe Fattorini meets the eighth generation of vintners to the royals. And revealing the extraordinary ingredients that went into one lavish dish at a royal banquet.

Harvest

Episode: 2x09 | Airdate: Nov 23, 2017

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Today, Michael and chef Paul Ainsworth reimagine an unusual dish served at Prince Charles's 50th birthday party. Dr Matt Green visits Dyrham near Bath to learn the history of deer parks, and former royal chef Carolyn Robb recreates a favourite royal pudding using British autumn fruit.

Festivals

Episode: 2x10 | Airdate: Nov 24, 2017

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In this edition, Michael and chef Anna Haugh recreate a 16th-century savoury tart with which a Tudor king broke his Lenten fast. Dr Annie Gray visits the Isle of Wight to discover how much modern Christmas owes to Queen Victoria, and chef Dipna Anand cooks a Diwali sweet that impressed the heir to the throne.

War and Strife

Episode: 2x11 | Airdate: Nov 27, 2017

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In this edition, Michael Buerk and chef Paul Ainsworth recreate a royal dish that was a staple of wartime palace meals. There is a visit to Britain's oldest brewery, which played an important role during a 17th-century conflict, and chef Rob Kennedy remembers an extraordinary event to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Holidays and Travel

Episode: 2x12 | Airdate: Nov 28, 2017

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In this programme, Michael Buerk and chef Anna Haugh fire up the barbecue to cook a favourite dish of Princess Anne. Dr Annie Gray explores the history of ice cream, once the exclusive preserve of kings, and former royal chef Des Sweeney relives his time in the kitchens at Balmoral Castle.

Extravagance

Episode: 2x13 | Airdate: Nov 29, 2017

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In this edition, Michael Buerk and chef Paul Ainsworth recreate a dish served at one of the most lavish royal banquets of all time. Dr Polly Russell hears about a 16th-century royal lads' night out that bankrupted England, and chef Michael Caines recreates a sumptuous dish he cooked for the Queen at Royal Ascot.

Young Royals

Episode: 2x14 | Airdate: Nov 30, 2017

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In this edition, Michael Buerk and chef Anna Haugh cook 16th-century biscuits, which originally celebrated the birth of a prince of the realm. Dr Matt Green visits Scotland to learn about happy holidays spent at the Queen Mother's childhood home, and former royal chef Des Sweeney recreates a dish inspired by a state visit to Iceland, which became a favourite of the young royals.

Party Food

Episode: 2x15 | Airdate: Dec 1, 2017

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Chef Paul Ainsworth impresses Michael Buerk with a dish from the Queen's 80th birthday dinner. Former royal chef Carolyn Robb recalls a special children's tea party and Dr Matt Green sips a royal cocktail at London's Savoy Hotel.

Season 3

Episode 1

Episode: 3x01 | Airdate: May 14, 2018

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The programme explores the history of royal courtship and marriage, and Michael hears from experts who help to put the finishing touches to a royal wedding. In this first episode, Michael and Anna make a pudding for a love-struck princess, Dr Annie Gray traces the history of a famous royal passion, and Paul Ainsworth saddles up at Guards Polo Club.

Episode 2

Episode: 3x02 | Airdate: May 15, 2018

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Michael and Paul cook a roast chicken like no other, Joanna Hardy shines a light on royal engagement rings, and Anna meets the caterers who ensure royal events go with a swing.

Episode 3

Episode: 3x03 | Airdate: May 16, 2018

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Michael and Paul cook a royal wedding dish that broke with tradition, royal butler Grant Harrold gives us the dos and don'ts of royal wedding protocol, and Anna learns how to fit in with the horsey set.

Episode 4

Episode: 3x04 | Airdate: May 17, 2018

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Michael and Anna make a delicious wedding cake for a thoroughly modern royal couple, we discover how the 'London cure' produces smoked salmon fit for royalty, and Paul takes a tour of royal Windsor.

Episode 5

Episode: 3x05 | Airdate: May 18, 2018

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Michael and Paul cook a surprisingly rustic royal wedding dish, Dr Annie Gray tells the tale of an unlikely royal bride, and florist to the royals Simon Lycett shares his predictions for Meghan Markle's bridal bouquet.

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