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The British Royal Family, despite their glamorous reputation, has some surprisingly frugal habits that offer a glimpse into their more down-to-earth side. From hand-me-downs to home-cooked meals, these are the thrifty practices that help the Windsors save money.
British Royal Family– Nothing Fancy for Breakfast
Breakfast has earned a reputation as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. However, don’t expect the British Royal Family to start their day with a lavish spread of rich foods.
At Buckingham Palace, the late Queen Elizabeth set the example for eating simple, wholesome breakfasts. Every day started with a cup of tea and a biscuit in bed, followed by a sit-down meal of cereal and toast. The monarch also liked kippers, a British classic that reminded her of the “war years” spent in Windsor Castle with her sister, Princess Margaret.
The younger generations of Windsors enjoy no-fuss, healthy breakfasts. Catherine, Princess of Wales, reportedly likes oatmeal and a nutritious smoothie for breakfast. The queen’s granddaughter, Zara Tindall, has a bowl of Greek yogurt and honey before exercising every morning.
At King Charles’ residence, Highgrove House, freshly laid eggs are always on the breakfast table. Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, shared that his mother prefers starting her day with a plate of scrambled eggs.
Turn off the Lights
Despite having a reported net worth of $28 billion, even the Royal Family worries about the rising cost of electricity. With 775 rooms and an estimated 40,000 lightbulbs, Buckingham Palace’s power bill cannot be cheap.
“The attention is drawn of all members of staff to the need to switch off unwanted lights. By Order of The Master of The Household,” read signs posted throughout the palace in 2011.
Queen Elizabeth was reportedly a strict practitioner of fuel economy. According to the Financial Times, the late monarch would roam through the palace and turn off unnecessary lights. She passed on this frugal habit to her son Charles, a passionate environmentalist.
“He’s a stickler for turning lights off,” Prince Harry said in a BBC One documentary about his father. “And that’s now something that I’m obsessed with as well.”
His brother, Prince William, echoed, “I know, I’ve got serious OCD on light switches now, which is terrible.”
Breathe New Life Into Old Outfits
Nothing saves money like wearing what you already own. Although the Royal Family is under constant media scrutiny, they are not afraid of being photographed in the same outfit—whether that’s two, three, or even six times.
The Princess of Wales often chooses to wear her favorite statement pieces more than once. From stylish suits to glittering ball gowns, Kate Middleton usually re-wears her outfits with a twist. Sometimes, it’s a different blouse, a new pair of shoes, or even another hairstyle that entirely transforms the look.
Other royals pictured wearing the same clothes on multiple occasions include Meghan Markle, Princess Diana, and the Queen. A notable outfit repeater is the Princess Royal, who has been re-wearing many of her signature pieces since the 1970s.
Not only did Queen Elizabeth repeat her outfits on many occasions, but she also allowed her grandchildren to modernize and don older pieces. For Princess Beatrice’s 2020 wedding, the bride chose an updated version of her grandmother’s vintage Norman Hartnell dress.
Even Royalty Flies on Ryanair
Fictional depictions like Netflix’s The Crown always show the Royal Family traveling in style: private jets, luxury cars, and even an official royal yacht. Nowadays, the royals travel alongside the commoners—sometimes flying in economy.
In November 2022, passengers on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Boston were surprised to recognize two royals in business class. The Prince and Princess of Wales chose to travel on a commercial aircraft on their way to present the Earthshot Prize, a global environmental award.
The couple has a history of flying commercially: in 2011, they flew home from Zara Tindall’s wedding on a discount airline. Prince William even traveled to Glasgow on the infamous budget airline, Ryanair.
Other Windsors also take commercial flights. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were previously spotted flying economy from London to Nice in 2018. Most recently, Princess Anne traveled on Sri Lankan Airlines to visit the South Asian country—and carried her bags herself!
A Family of Home Cooks
Before COVID, Buckingham Palace had approximately 800 hungry stomachs to feed. In addition to the Royal Family and their notable guests, the kitchen staff provides regular meals for the army of workers that keeps the palace running, as well as state banquets, royal weddings, and special occasions, like Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Considering the amount of professional chefs at their disposal, some might be surprised to learn that the British royals are not all hopeless in the kitchen. At a charity gala dinner in 2016, the Princess of Wales revealed she’s responsible for preparing most meals in their family home.
“William has to put up with my cooking most of the time,” a self-deprecating Catherine told Michelin-star chefs at the event, as reported by Us Weekly.
The prince poked fun at his wife’s kitchen prowess: “It’s the reason I’m so skinny.”
Another royal couple also has fond memories associated with home-cooked meals. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement in 2017, the couple told the BBC which special dish was involved in the proposal.
The Duke of Sussex surprised his then-girlfriend during what he described as a “standard, typical night for us” at their first home, Nottingham Cottage.
“Just a cozy night,” agreed the duchess. “What were we doing? Roasting chicken—trying to roast a chicken—and it just, just [was] an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic.”
Bargain Prices and High Street Brands
When the British Royal Family goes clothes shopping, they visit more stores than just luxury fashion houses. Meghan Markle’s wardrobe proves the duchess is a fan of high street brands like Massimo Dutti, Banana Republic, Everlane, and H&M. Her cousin-in-law, Princess Eugenie, was also pictured wearing pieces from Maje and Whistles.
However, the Princess of Wales has perfected the art of pairing high- street items with luxury pieces. She first set the tone for her royal wardrobe with her engagement photoshoot in 2010, by wearing a white Reiss dress paired with Princess Diana’s diamond-and-sapphire ring. Since then, Kate Middleton has often worn brands like Marks & Spencer, Mango, & Other Stories, L.K. Bennett, Zara, ASOS, and Topshop.
