top of page
Writer's pictureThe Young Vegan

Is King Charles III Going Vegan?

King Charles revealed in an interview with the BBC in 2021 that he doesn't eat meat or fish two days a week and sticks to a vegan diet once a week. Having advocated for the environment for years the king has said many times that how people eat affects the environment. It is now reported that King Charles has gone one step further.


Royalty are known for killing animals for sport, could they go vegan?

A Vegan Christmas Dinner

This year King Charles’ private residence is opening its gates to the public for Christmas dinner. But unlike last year, there will be no turkey on the menu. For Christmas 2022 the royal’s Highgrove Estate, in Tetbury, has employed French chef Sam Robert to create "sustainable dishes characteristic of the Cotswolds", including some delicious vegan recipes.


The Metro has reported that customers that want to eat a vegan meal can order a celeriac and truffle soup for starters and then choose between pan-fried roots or a chestnut cake for main course, served with squash puree, Brussels sprouts and red salsa. The vegan dessert is confit pineapple with saffron, coconut mousse and sesame tuile.


The Christmas meal – which also includes champagne, canapés, and live entertainment – costs £37.50 for two courses or £47.50 for three, however, not all of the dishes on the menu will be vegan.


King Charles’ diet

The King is isn’t vegan, although he has made his dislike of factory farming clear. He has spoken out against the use of antibiotics in the beef industry, and is a vocal environmental activist.


"For every pound of beef produced in the industrial system, it takes two thousand gallons of water. That is a lot of water and there is plenty of evidence that the Earth cannot keep up with the demand."

King Charles III


The King has said he altered his diet to lower his impact on the environment and he also urged that others to do the same. Being aware of the protests going on within the UK and around the world he understands people feelings and shares their passions, but he has said that protests that involve behaviour such as blocking roads "isn't helpful". The King understands why campaigners, from organisations such as Extinction Rebellion, demand action on climate change and he sympathises with young people and their feeling about how climate change is going to affect their future.


"All these young people feel nothing is ever happening so of course, they're going to get frustrated.

"I totally understand because nobody would listen and they see their future being totally destroyed."

King Charles III


Will The King Be Vegan?

Will King Charles become vegan? Probably not, he has said many times that the way that we eat affects the environment, he openly admits that he eats vegan one day a week, but will it go any further than that? It's not likely, after all, he was vegetarian at one point, but that period came to an end.


“So if it’s grass-based and from the right breeds, you know if it is better quality but eaten less often - that approach to farming is less damaging than the industrialised approach with intensive everything, and causing huge pressures and damage.”

King Charles III


The King has acknowledged how difficult it is for most people to reduce their carbon footprint, but he has changed his diet to reduce his impact on the environment and has urged others to do the same.   During a trip to Greece, to pay their respects to fallen soldiers at the Commonwealth War Graves in Athens, the then Prince, travelling with others, attended a short ceremony, where they were met by a small vegan group, who had hung a banner from the balcony of a building that read: "Charles, go vegan! Compassion looks great on you." Hopefully he will take this message to heart and go fully vegan and be an example to the world.


Comments


bottom of page