Red faces at Princes beef lunch

29 March 2000



Red faces at Prince’s beef lunch

By FWi staff

PRINCE CHARLES has embarrassed livestock farmers by refusing to eat British beef during a promotional lunch for European chefs, say the daily papers.

The prince entertained 22 European chefs in front of the media at a farmhouse lunch at Moreton-in Marsh, Gloucestershire, on Tuesday (28 March).

The lunch was designed to promote overseas sales of British beef and persuade some of the Continents culinary luminaries that it is safe to eat.

But Prince Charles refused to eat any beef despite the importance of the event because he has given up eating lunch for Lent, confirmed a Palace spokesman.

The Express said: “Dismayed farmers, depending on him to help restore the reputation of British beef, demanded to know why.”

It added: “Rarely have his idiosyncrasies caused so much embarrassment.”

The Prince of Waless fast failed to impress Phil Saunders of the Meat and Livestock Commission, which backed the promotion, says The Times.

Mr Saunders said: “The only thing Im giving up for Lent is lentils.”

The Daily Telegraph said it was something of an embarrassment of the MLC which has enlisted the Princes support to back British beef.

The Daily Mail said: “It was supposed to be an ideal opportunity to prove British beef is favoured by the royal palate.

“But since one had given up lunch for Lent, it was a somewhat awkward moment.”