You might think that being an aristocrat means eating whatever food your heart desires - but one chef to the upper classes has revealed the "lower class" ingredients banned from the dinner table. Annabel Bower, 44, who worked for Lord Benjamin Mancroft, the 3rd Baron Mancroft, and his wife Lady Emma, said five food items were completely off the table at meal times. The South chef, who cooked for Prince William and Harry when they were boys during visits to the Mancroft's Gloucestershire estate, said any kind of pre-packaged or fast food was frowned upon in the aristocratic kitchen.

A ban on fast food was less about health and more about class image, Annabel revealed - with rich, buttery dishes popular with her clients but "deep-fried foods ... considered quite lower class". Another strange exemption from the country manor's dining table was minced or diced meat, the 44-year-old told MailOnline. The ingredient, which is popular in UK dishes like Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie, are considered "lesser cuts of meat" by the upper-classes, she said.

"Rib eye, beef fillet or a big piece of scotch are acceptable," Annabel added. "You'd never serve mince or diced meat, because they're lesser cuts of meat. They could only be given to children or used for staff meals."

Two other no-gos in the Mancroft household, and when the royals came to visit, were even more surprising - swede turnips and diced carrot.

The latter was specific to its presentation style, the chef said, with whole baby carrots perfectly acceptable for picnicking aristocrats.

Meanwhile, swede turnips were banned based on their use in animal feed, taking up the rear of the "different tiers of vegetables" Annabel discovered the hard way while feeding Britain's upper echelon's of society.

"Swede turnips are used to feed animals," she said. "But one time, I unknowingly made a Swede turnip mash with caramelised onion. [A family member] came and told me, 'You can't serve that. That's cattle feed'."

Despite the strict rules around what to serve to high-ranking guests, the menu stuck to British classics when it came to catering for Lord Mancroft's outdoor events, including polo or hunting, which members of the royal family typically attended.

"They love a ham and cheese sandwich or a classic chicken sandwich," she said. "Of course, you would use beautiful fresh white bread and top it with poached chicken, mayonnaise, lemon and herbs."