Remembering Queen Elizabeth: Her Life, Faith and the Food She Loved
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Remembering Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning British monarch. As we mourn the passing of a great leader, we can’t help but reflect on her life, her faith, and even the food she loved. A beautiful woman, inside and out, whose gracious life touched us all.
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Speaking of food, Queen Elizabeth was known for her love of chocolate. Be sure to find her favorite chocolate cake recipe at the bottom of this post.
Tributes are pouring in on the life of Queen Elizabeth, who ascended the throne when Winston Churchill was prime minister. Since then she has help guide a nation through World Wars, challenges, and sweeping change.
Known for her contagious smile and attentive ear, The Wall Street Journal describes Queen Elizabeth as “a symbol of stability in an era of sweeping social and political change.”
“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service.”
Queen Elizabeth: Message on Feb. 6, 2022, to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Queen Elizabeth’s Life
Through 70 years of service, Queen Elizabeth had her husband, Prince Philip, by her side. They were married in November 1947 and became the longest-married royal couple.
The couple shared four children — now King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne — along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Here a few notable quotes on Queen Elizabeth’s life.
“Despite spending spending nearly three quarters of a century as one of the most famous and admired individuals… the queen made sure her reign was never really about herself– not her fame, not her feelings, not her personal wants or needs.”
— Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
She “led her people with grace, demonstrating what servant-leadership means in principle and in practice.”
— House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
“Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration.”
— Jimmy Carter
“Throughout her remarkable 70-year reign, she led Britain through great transformation with unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of its people.”
— Bill Clinton
“I join all who mourn her loss… in paying tribute to her life of service… her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”
— Pope Francis
Queen Elizabeth’s Faith
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reflected on not only her life but on her profound faith. He says, “Queen Elizabeth II through times of war and hardship has sustained the nation with her faith in what and who we are called to be.”
He continued to reflect on her steadfast loyalty, her service, and her humility and how it helped make a sense in a world of extraordinary change.
Her trust in God and profound love for God was foundational in how she led her life — hour by hour, day by day.”
Archbishop of canterbury justin welby
The Royal Family says, “The Queen was also buoyed by her Christian faith, often reflecting on the perspective and solace it had brought her, particularly during her annual Christmas Broadcasts.”
In her 2014 Christmas broadcast, Queen Elizabeth described her faith and what it has meant to her. In her own words…
“For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.”
ROYAL.UK
Remembering Queen Elizabeth and the food she loved.
The Telegraph reports that twice a week, Queen Elizabeth would consult a red leather-bound book of menu suggestions from head chef, Mark Flanagan. She would check the ideas she liked and draw a line through those she didn’t. Typically, her likes tended to include chocolate or ingredients from her farms.
Flanagan notes she liked a Sunday roast after church, but she preferred the well-done ends, noting she didn’t like rare.
He also said she loved strawberries and white peaches, tuna salad triangle shaped finger sandwiches with thin slices of cucumbers, and Jam pennies – buttered bread with jam cut into circles the size of the old English penny.
Darren McGrady, personal chef to the Queen, says, ” Afternoon tea is a daily fixture, and often comes with chocolate perfection pie or chocolate biscuit cake, made with McVitie’s Rich Tea biscuits.”
Her love of shortbread is also well know. I’ve published her favorite Buckingham Palace Shortbread recipe here.
For more of Queen Elizabeth’s Favorite Foods, you may also enjoy reading:
- Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea Recipes
- Queen Elizabeth’s Drop Scones: A Perfect Teatime Treat
- Easy Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe for Tea
- Taking Afternoon Tea Like the British
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Queen Elizabeth’s Bohemian Chocolate Cake
In 2006 Prince Charles hosted a surprise celebration for his mother’s 80th birthday. Guests enjoyed a simple British menu followed by a sumptuous slice of chocolate sponge cake reputed to be one of her favorites.
The original recipe is from Chocolate Fit for a Queen in association with Historic Royal Palaces. For metric measurements and ingredients, visit The Telegraph.
Queen Elizabeth’s Favorite Belgian Chocolate Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 100 g Belgian milk chocolate
- unsalted butter to grease
- 1 3/4 cup self-raising flour *see notes
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup cooking oil
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
Filling and Decorations
- 150 g Belgian dark chocolate minimum 70 percent cocoa solids
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2-3 tablespoons raspberry jam
- 3/4 cup 150g mixed summer fruit (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
Instructions
- Break the chocolate into pieces and melt slowly in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of just‑simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Once melted, set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake tins with parchment paper.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Stir the oil, 1/3 cup water, and sugar into the melted chocolate, then whisk in the eggs. Pour half the mixture into the well and fold in, then mix in the remaining chocolate mixture.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cake pans and bake for 20‑25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cakes from the tins and cool on a wire rack.
- Make a chocolate ganache icing by melting the dark chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Stir in the milk then set aside to cool.
- Whip the cream in a separate bowl until thick. Use a large metal spoon to fold in one large spoonful of the cream to the chocolate mixture. Continue to gently fold in the remaining cream until smooth.
- Put one cake half on a cake stand and cover the top with jam. Place the other cake half on top. Spoon about half the ganache on top of the cake and slowly start to work it down the sides to cover the cake, adding spoonfuls of ganache to the sides until it is all covered. Put the remaining ganache on top and swirl into a pleasing pattern. Pile the fruit into the middle of the cake, slice and serve.
Notes
Substitute for Self-Rising Flour
If you don’t have self-rising flour on hand, for every 1 cup of self-rising flour, substitute 1 cup of all-purpose flour plus 1 tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. baking soda.Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Very well done ,yes the Queen was a wonderful roll model to us all , thank you very much enjoy reading what you put.
Thank you, Cindy!
This post really lovely! Paying respects to The Queen. What a legacy, truly. Love all the recipes you have shared. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, Ginger! She truly was a legacy we will all miss. Thank you for your kind words!