King Charles III has announced that foie gras will no longer be served in the royal residences. The monarch is thus responding to a request from the organization “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (Peta).
End of foie gras at Buckingham Palace: King Charles III has banned this French specialty from the tables of the royal residences, as indicated in a letter from the palace addressed to the organization Peta. Charles, who has long been committed to protecting nature, ecological agriculture, and combating climate change, is considered a long-time opponent of foie gras.
“Thank you very much for your letter concerning the ethical issues related to foie gras,” the English king wrote to the organization Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in a response letter. “I can confirm that foie gras is neither purchased by the royal family nor served in the royal residences, and there are no plans to change this policy.”
Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8, greatly enjoyed foie gras. During a state dinner in Paris in June 2014 with then-president François Hollande, a duck liver pâté was served to her.
As a thank you, Peta sent the king a box of “fake foie gras,” made in the London restaurant of vegan chef Alexis Gauthier. Peta “encourages everyone to follow the king’s example and not to consume foie gras at Christmas and beyond”, the organization said in a press release. Foie gras, considered a delicacy and often consumed at Christmas, can currently be imported and sold in the United Kingdom, but its production on national territory is prohibited.