The Royal Family is gearing up for the holiday season, and that means indulging in a variety of festive treats, including specially made mince pies.

But what sets apart King Charles’ mince pies from the rest?

Well, according to a former Royal Chef, there’s a secret ingredient that makes them extra delicious.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel last December, former Royal Chef Darren McGrady spilled the beans on how the Royal Family likes to enjoy their mince pies during this merry time of year.

Demonstrating the process of making the pies from scratch, McGrady emphasized the importance of letting them cool completely.

“I know, it’s hard,” he said, “they smell gorgeous but hide them away somewhere, go for a walk.”

Once the pies have cooled down, McGrady suggested running a knife around the edges and carefully transferring them onto a serving tray.

But the magic doesn’t stop there.

McGrady revealed the secret ingredient that takes these mince pies to the next level.

“You saw earlier when I made them that I didn’t put any egg on the lids because I didn’t want them to stick,” he explained.

“We take the brandy butter, frozen swirls of butter, icing sugar, and brandy, and then just lift the lid and put some brandy butter into each one.”

By the time the mince pies reached the Royal Dining Room, they were nothing short of exquisite.

But before serving, a sprinkle of powdered sugar was added on top.

However, caution had to be exercised with the amount of powdered sugar used.

McGrady recalled a humorous incident at Sandringham Christmas when Prince Philip nearly choked after inhaling the powdered sugar off the top of a mince pie.

As for the rest of the Royal Family’s Christmas feast, the former Royal Chef revealed that traditional turkeys are always on the menu.

“We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the Royal Dining Room,” he shared, “one for the children’s nursery, and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch.”

The turkeys were accompanied by mashed and roast potatoes, chestnut or sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, and bread sauce.

Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, carrots, and roast parsnips were also served.

In addition to the mince pies, the Royal Family is known to relish homemade Christmas pudding and a delectable date and apple pie made with apples from Sandringham’s orchard.

McGrady, who previously penned a book titled Eating Royally, also mentioned that the family enjoys bubble and squeak, a traditional potato dish.

So, as the festive season approaches, King Charles and the Royal Family will be savoring their specially made mince pies, complete with the secret ingredient that adds that extra touch of deliciousness.

And while we may not have access to the exact recipe, we can still indulge in our own festive treats and savor the joy of the holiday season.