'Perfect time' for dinner explained by King Charles' former head chef

The former head chef for King Charles and Queen Camilla has explained what he thinks is the best time to have dinner from a health point of view - and that the royals didn't stick to it. Chef Visen Anenden spent a decade working in the royal kitchens.

Now the former head chef has revealed the exact time he believes is best to tuck into dinner and whether Charles and Camilla followed the same routine themselves. As well as sharing his insights from the royal kitchen, Visen also revealed his go-to summer salad dish, along with the perfect meat addition to complement it.

Speaking to Heart Bingo Online, chef Visen Anenden said: "The perfect time to eat is 4pm or 5pm; 5pm, if you have something to eat, you have the rest of the evening for your body to digest it.

"The people who eat at 8pm probably go to bed at around 10pm, so youre going to bed with a full stomach. I just think theres nothing worse than feeling full going to bed."

Asked what time the royals had dinner, Visen said: "It was quite late, around 8pm. Camilla would try to push earlier, but it was always around 8 or 8.30pm."

King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Darjeeling Express restaurant in central London last year (Image: PA)

Former royal chef Visen Anenden's favourite summer dish and how to make it

Visen said: "I love beetroot, so during the summer when beetroot is in season, I would make a beetroot salad.

"That would be with watercress, butter leaf salad, baby gems, feta cheese roasted pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds with pomegranate molasses dressing.

"Its really colourful. Youve got different types of beetroot going through it.

"You roast some beetroot, you boil some beetroots, and youve got raw beetroots as well. Its all different textures and sweetness. Thats really nice with grilled lamb cutlets.

"The dressing is made up of pomegranate molasses, blood orange juice, white wine vinegar, and lemon juice.

"You basically just make an emulsion with it. Use olive oil and grapeseed oil, with a bit of walnut oil at the end of it."