King Charles’ former butler reveals ‘correct’ way to slice cheese

King Charles’ former butler has revealed the ‘correct’ way to slice into cheese – and it makes all the difference to the taste.

Earlier this week, Grant Harrold – who worked on the monarch’s Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire between 2005 to 2011 – urged people to reconsider their method for slicing into cheeses such as brie. 

In a viral TikTok that’s amassed over 1.2m views, the etiquette expert, who is originally from Airdrie, Scotland, filmed himself enjoying a dinner party with author Christine Hamilton.

As the pair are about to enjoy some cheese and grapes, Grant pointed out a common mistake he sees people making to his 160,000 followers.

Grant Harrold (pictured) urged people to reconsider their method for slicing into cheeses such as brie

He said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please remember – you never cut the nose off the cheese.’

As Grant hovered the knife above the end of the brie, Christine then let out a playful scream and pretended to faint.

He continued: ‘After all, your hostess will not thank you for this. Sorry madam!’

Having reminded viewers of proper ‘cheese etiquette’, Grant ends the video by taking a small slice lengthways along the brie. 

Left: Grant Harrold urged viewers not to cut the nose off the end of cheese as his hostess Christine Hamilton pretended to faint next to him. Right: The expert ended the video by slicing into the cheese lengthways

As cheese matures at different speeds from the rind, Grant’s method allows all members of the party to enjoy the varying flavours. 

The video amassed over 33,000 ‘likes’ in the first 48 hours – and viewers were stunned not to have known the etiquette before.

‘I did not know this,’ one replied. ‘Thank you!’

Another added: ‘This drives me crazy when a guest does this!’ 

Meanwhile, a third wrote: ‘Cutting the nose is like eating the top of a cupcake instead of cutting part of the top through to the bottom.’   

Etiquette expert Grant Harrold (pictured) has revealed two simple etiquette tips to follow when eating pastries with guests

A fourth replied: ‘As others have said, you wouldn’t cut just the centre of a pizza or a cake. It’s really selfish to help yourself to the soft centre of the cheese leaving the rind for the last person.’

In response to viewer comments on Instagram, Grant said it was also impolite to take ‘all the goodness’ from the nose for yourself. 

As part of his former duties, Grant butlered for the now-monarch, as well as for the late Queen and Prince Philip on occasion.

Now he creates content around etiquette topics on TikTok and Instagram, revealing the posh way to behave when it comes to dining and socialising among other things. 

Last week, the expert revealed the ‘correct’ way to eat breakfast pastries. 

Taking to Instagram, he filmed himself holding a basket of pastries, which he proceeded to tuck into, before instead discussing etiquette issues.