Charles Oliver - Dinner at Buckingham Palace--Secrets & recipes from the reign of Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II

This book is dedicated to all the people who helped keep a small corner of history alive and made it possible for the contents of this book finally to be published. It is also dedicated to my friends Gus and Sheila Dudgeon, whose friendship, support and enthusiasm I will always remember.

P AUL F ISHMAN

B ased on Charlie Olivers personal recollections, Dinner at Buckingham Palace contains a unique collection of authentic recipes from the royal kitchens. It is also a historic reflection of the culinary habits of the royal household, from Victoria to Elizabeth II. With its selection of recipes from the royal kitchens to suit family and intimate gatherings, and some to suit grander occasions, Dinner at Buckingham Palace provides a fascinating insight into royal food, serving procedures, personal preferences, kitchens, dining rooms and menu books. But who was Charlie Oliver?

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Charles Charlie Oliver was the son of a royal servant, also called Charles, who served at Balmoral at the end of the nineteenth century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. When Charlie was born, in about 1884, his family continued to live within the Royal Household, and as young Charlie grew up, like his father he became part of the entourage of employees who served and tended the monarchy and their guests. It was practically inevitable that the child of a servant should follow in his or her parents footsteps, for to serve the monarchy was considered a great honour. Charles continued to work for the Royal Household for most of his life although at the outbreak of the First World War he left to join the army and fight for his country. Caught in the historic battle at Gallipoli, he was gravely wounded, but somehow managed to survive, with only one lung and permanent partial paralysis. After his recovery he returned to royal service and was appointed to the personal staff of the Prince of Wales, now serving under King George V and Queen Mary.

It was said that his diligence and endless good humour endeared him both to the staff and to the King and Queen and he was in many ways quite a remarkable character. He was known at Buckingham Palace where he was employed for many years, at Windsor Castle where he worked under the rule of housekeeper Alice Bruce, and at Balmoral. As a result of his injuries he was left with a serious speech impediment but this only brought him closer to the royal family circle, for Bertie (King George VI) also stammered. At the Palace Charles Oliver eventually came to work under the authority of Sir Piers Legh (18901955), who as Master of the Household had overall responsibility for the domestic workings at Buckingham Palace from 1941 to 1953, during which time Charlie Oliver became his right-hand man.

He remained throughout his life a bachelor and devoted much of his time when not serving King, Queen and country to acquiring both a taste for and knowledge about good food. He was particularly fascinated by the royal kitchens, keeping endless notes, recording every detail, and over a period of many years he gradually amassed a considerable collection of royal recipes and old menus, of which he was extremely proud. He also lovingly and respectfully hoarded a treasure of many anecdotes relating to the serving of these dishes, recording state social events, royal tastes and entertaining preferences, to make his own unique and very individual commentary.

Charlie suggested that the wealth of material he had gathered over the years should be compiled into what he described as a cookbook with a difference. He made only one stipulation: that it should not be published until after his death.

Throughout his life he remained very close to those who continued to live and work at the Palace, and after retiring he still regularly returned to visit, as he lived nearby in a basement apartment in Buckingham Gate. Despite his age and his physical handicaps, he served as a London borough councillor and was employed as a guide at the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. He died in 1965.

A few years later in 1968, through a contact at the Palace, the contents of his diaries and collections were brought to the attention of Jack Fishman, who was a former editor of one of the countrys national newspapers. Having worked as a professional journalist for a considerable time, Fishman had acquired many political and royal contacts. Since departing the newspaper he had established himself as a successful author, including biographies of Bogart, Stalin, and notably the internationally acclaimed My Darling Clementine, the biography of Lady Churchill.

Recognizing the unique content and historic value of Charles Olivers records, Jack Fishman made various attempts to get them published, but for many years most of the material remained buried in his attic. The original manuscript for this book was discovered after Fishmans own death in 1997.

Among the vast collection of papers, documents and photographs that he had collected, there were some unpublished personal, charming, family photos of the Queen and Prince Philip and of their young children. Some of these had been given to Fishman by Lord Mountbatten and have been included within this book, along with other rare royal photos found in Fishmans collection.

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During his many years, from childhood on, spent roaming round the royal kitchens, Charlie Oliver would have come to know, if only from an awed distance, many of the royal chefs and cooks, or heard stories about them. He would never have met Francatelli, who died some years before he was born, but, even decades after Francatelli had left the Palace, it is likely that he would have still been the subject of royal kitchen lore. Charles Elm Francatelli, of Italian parents but born in Britain, received his culinary training in France under the illustrious Antonin Carme. He seems to have had a strong sense of his standing as a chef, and arrogance put an end to his royal career. The Spectator of 11 December 1841 quoted one of those high-class journals (with the implication that such journals were fawning on the royal family), which reported that Monday last, Francatelli took an opportunity of insulting Mr Norton (Deputy Comptroller of her Majestys Household) in the presence of all the Pages and about forty others; when high words ensued, which ended in a Policeman being sent for to take Francatelli into custody; but he managed to make his escape before the officer arrived. The result of the investigation was the suspension of Francatelli until the matter shall be laid before Her Majesty and Prince Albert; when there is no doubt that measures will be adopted to prevent a recurrence of such disgraceful proceedings.