Prince William reveals he likes sushi, despite famous royal rule on shellfish

The royal family is instructed not to eat shellfish when dining out to avoid becoming ill

The Duke of Cambridge has revealed that he and the Duchess of Cambridge enjoy eating sushi, despite the famous royal rule banning them from having shellfish.

Prince William was touring new cultural centre Japan House on Kensington High Street on Thursday when he tried some salmon sashimi that had been prepared by chef Akira Shimizu, after whom the restaurant in the building is named.

“My wife and I love sushi,” Prince William said. “We might have to come down here for lunch when there’s no one else down.”

Prince William is presented with a bento box by chef Akira Shimizu (Getty Images)

During his tour the duke made an unfortunate gaffe while speaking to schoolchildren who were learning how to use chopsticks, asking whether they had eaten “much Chinese food” despite being in a Japanese cultural centre.

The duke described the sashimi that he tried as “delicious and amazing”, while being accompanied by the Japanese deputy prime minister Taro Aso.

According to the BBC, one food group that members of the royal family actively avoid consuming while away in a foreign country or dining out is shellfish.

This is because shellfish has been known to put you at greater risk of infection when eaten raw.

Prince Charles samples an oyster as Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, looks on during a visit to the Whistable Oyster Festival in Whistable on July 29 2013 (Arthur Edwards/AFP/Getty Images)

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that when an individual eats a raw oyster that contains Vibrio, a bacteria that exists in coastal waters, then this can increase their chances of developing an illness called vibriosis.

In November last year, it was reported that a deadly herpes virus, Ostreid herpesvirus 1, was threatening Pacific oysters, one of the world’s most popular species of oyster.

Another food item that the royal family typically refrains from eating while travelling is rare meat.

In 2005, the “raw meat” diet was all the rage with celebrities such as Uma Thurman and Demi Moore supposedly swearing by the fad.

However, last August experts spoke to The Independent about the importance of cooking burgers through in order to prevent any bacteria that could be living inside the meat from surviving.

While it may be difficult to imagine a member of the royal family ordering tap water at a restaurant, it’s also off reportedly off bounds.

With all of the rules and regulations that dictate the royal family’s every move, such as learning how to perfect the art of drinking a cup of tea, there’s no doubt that those who are a part of this famous clan have a lot to remember.