Prince Charles reveals love of ‘groussaka’ as he turns 70

Prince Charles has revealed his love of “groussaka” – his version of the Greek dish moussaka, but with grouse instead of lamb – on the day he turns 70.

The Prince of Wales made the comments in the latest edition of Country Life, which he edited to mark his birthday.

He also told the magazine about his fondness for red squirrels and how he lets them run around his home.

Two new photos of the prince with his family have been released by Clarence House to celebrate the landmark.

Other events include a private party at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen, who will give a speech for her son.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will also attend a tea party at Spencer House in London to celebrate 70 inspirational people marking their 70th birthdays this year.

There will be traditional gun salutes at Green Park at midday and the Tower of London at 13:00 GMT, when the bells will also be rung at Westminster Abbey.

Writing in Country Life, the prince talks about his love of food and the magazine features one of his favourite recipes – pheasant crumble pie.

He says: “I got this recipe from someone I know. It is delicious.

“I invented a grouse one recently, coq au vin with grouse, as well as moussaka with grouse. It doesn’t always have to be lamb – in other words, groussaka!”

He also describes how red squirrels visit his Birkhall home on the Queen’s Balmoral estate.

The prince says: “They come into the house at Birkhall and we get them chasing each other round and round the inside.

“Sometimes when I leave my jackets on a chair with nuts in the pockets, I see them with their tails sticking out, as they hunt for nuts – they are incredibly special creatures.”

• Man to mark birthday with Prince Charles

Clarence House tweeted birthday wishes to the prince with a video montage of pictures from each decade of his life. It shows him with his family and enjoying pursuits like polo, windsurfing and flying, as well as performing official duties.

There are several with William and Harry as children, including one with their mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

Prince facts

Buckingham Palace has released 70 facts about the Prince of Wales to mark his birthday. Here are just a few…

• The prince does not eat lunch
• His preferred cuppa is Darjeeling with honey and milk
• A keen painter, the prince had a watercolour displayed in the Royal Academy’s 1987 summer exhibition, after it was submitted anonymously
• The prince often carries out tree planting ceremonies during engagements. After planting each tree, he gives a branch a friendly shake to wish them well
• He has a frog named after him: Hyloscirtus Princecherlesi or Prince Charles Magnificent Tree Frog
• The prince became the first heir to the throne to earn a university degree in 1970. He studied archaeology and anthropology in his first year at Cambridge, switching to history for the remainder of his degree.

More on this story:

To mark the Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday, we present an image from the Press Association archives from every year of his life.

Prince Charles: 70 years in 70 pictures