Why garlic’s off Camilla’s menu

WITH all those top chefs to prepare their meals, you’d think Charles and Camilla were dining on exotic dishes every night.

But according to the Duchess of Cornwall’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, the couple avoid onions, garlic and chilli to make sure they don’t offend anyone with their breath while carrying out royal duties.

Appearing at the Henley Literary Festival, which is sponsored by the Daily Mail, Mr Parker Bowles said he never cooked for the couple because of their specific dietary requirements.

He said: ‘They have very, very good cooks, proper chefs, so why would they want me to do it?

‘I like chillies and I like onions and garlic and as she’s got older garlic and chillies are especially a no-no… you can’t go stinking of garlic when you are shaking a few hands the next day.’ Restaurant critic Mr Parker Bowles said his mother was an excellent cook. ‘My mother’s roast chicken (was my favourite), I dined on that literally and figuratively for many years.’

Catherine Collins, of the British Dietetic Association, said the smelly breath from garlic was caused by a compound called allicin. She said: ‘Once the garlic is swallowed the allicin breaks down into sulphides which is expressed in your breath long after eating the garlic, sometimes hours later.

‘You can combat the immediate effects of garlic with green tea or the after effects by eating an apple.’