Alabama-born Royal acquired his passion for Southern food from his grandmother and mother and at age 14 he decided he wanted to cook professionally. He attended LaGrange College in Georgia and Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama. He went on to Nathalie Dupree's Cooking School in Atlanta.

In 1997, Royals talents won him recognition from the Restaurant Guild International who named him the Five Star Chef of the Year. He is the first black chef to have received this prestigious award. Other awards have included Best Chef in the Triangle, James Beard Rising Star, Top Black Chef in America and one of the Top Five Chefs in the Southeast.