Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 24, 2025 · Entertainment

Royal Feast or Fast Food? Chef Clare Smyth Bites Back on Wedding Menu Rumors

Chef Clare Smyth appears as a guest on Meghan Markle's Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, and shows her how to prepare a fish dish

ROYAL WEDDING SECRETS REVEALED: CHEF CLARE SMYTH SHEDS LIGHT ON MEGHAN AND HARRY'S LAVISH CELEBRATION

The veil of secrecy surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding reception has finally been lifted, thanks to none other than renowned Chef Clare Smyth. The three-Michelin-starred chef, who presided over the culinary extravaganza at Frogmore House in Windsor, has opened up about the lavish menu she created for the royal couple and their 200 guests.

But what's more tantalizing is that Chef Smyth will soon be sharing her culinary expertise with none other than Meghan Markle herself on the Duchess's lifestyle show, "With Love, Meghan." In an exclusive interview with The Times, Chef Smyth dished about the behind-the-scenes drama and the exquisite dishes she crafted for the royal wedding reception.

Chef Clare, who has three Michelin stars for her restaurant Core, was first hired by Prince Harry and Meghan to cook for their royal wedding reception in 2018

NO BURGERS FOR THE ROYALS!

Rumor had it that Chef Smyth's menu included luxury wagyu beef burgers – a far cry from the fine dining experience she has become synonymous with at her London restaurant, Core. But when questioned about the rumors, Chef Smyth let out a sassy retort: "It wouldn't take a lot to figure out that we probably didn't cook burgers." One can almost imagine her surveying her elegant fine dining establishment, surrounded by the opulent decor and the soft glow of candlelight.

And for good reason – Core's tasting menu sets customers back a whopping £255 per person, with an additional £175 charge for wine pairing. It's safe to say that Chef Smyth didn't skimp on the luxuries when preparing for the royal wedding reception.

Other high profile guests from the food world who appear in the second series of With Love, Meghan include celebrity chef David Chang

A ROAST CHICKEN WITH A TWIST

One dish in particular stood out: a "roast chicken with a twist," in honor of Harry and Meghan's iconic proposal story. For those who may have missed it, the Duke proposed to his then-fiancée while they were roasting a chicken together at their cottage. The sweet gesture has become one of the most beloved anecdotes from the royal couple's romance.

Chef Smyth revealed that she spent 25 hours preparing the "potato and roe" dish, which was a signature item on her menu for the occasion. Talk about dedication to culinary excellence!

Samin Nosrat, who authored the bestselling cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, also shows Meghan how to prepare a dish on the show

A CAKE FIT FOR A ROYAL

But what really stole the show (pun intended) was the multi-tiered cake created by Californian baker Claire Ptak. Made using 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 eggs, and 10 bottles of elderflower cordial from the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, this masterpiece was a true showstopper.

CHEF SMYTH TAKES MEGHAN MARKLE UNDER HER WING

But one of the more controversial guests on Meghan's show is Chrissy Teigen, who sparked outrage as viewers recalled a bullying row

As we previously mentioned, Chef Smyth will soon be sharing her culinary expertise with Meghan Markle on "With Love, Meghan." In an exclusive clip from the upcoming season, Chef Smyth takes the Duchess to a fish market and they pick herbs and vegetables from the Sussexes' Montecito garden to create a stunning dish.

Meghan was particularly interested in learning about presentation and skills from the renowned chef. It's clear that their culinary collaboration is a match made in heaven!

"WITH LOVE, MEGHAN": A SHOW WORTH WATCHING?

While some critics have branded the show "boring" and "underwhelming," Chef Smyth firmly defends her work on the series, describing it as "quite sweet and nice... easygoing and lighthearted." We can't help but agree – with guest stars like Tan France, Jay Shetty, and Chrissy Teigen joining Meghan Markle, this show has all the makings of a hit.

And don't worry, folks; we won't hold our breath for any juicy drama or royal family secrets being spilled on camera. The Duchess's lifestyle show is set to return on August 26th – just in time for you to catch up before season two premieres!

Sources: TheScholarlyNote.com (originally published at thescholarlynote.com)