Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding cake breaks royal tradition
The couple is proving once again that they are doing things their own way
The couple is proving once again that they are doing things their own way
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — and, not surprisingly, it won't be a traditional royal wedding treat. They have nixed the usual royal fruit cake, and are instead creating a dessert that will reflect the springtime season.
They have enlisted pastry chef Claire Ptak, who, like Meghan, is originally from California and now lives in London. Ptak runs an East London bakery called Violet, which sells American-style cupcakes, brownies, and pastries.
Ptak will make a lemon elderflower cake covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. She focuses on seasonal and organic ingredients, which is something Meghan and Harry also find important. "I can't tell you how delighted I am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding cake," Ptak said in a statement released by Kensington Palace. "Knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality and most importantly flavor, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of."
The cake will break from royal tradition by not being a fruit cake, which typically includes dried fruit and is brushed with brandy, according to . Fruit cake is often traditional in the U.K., and since it lasts so long, the top tier is often reserved for the christening of the bride and groom's first child, according to .
Prince William and Duchess Kate opted for an eight-tear fruit cake from baker Fiona Cairns; it included grated oranges, raisins, walnuts, and French brandy. But William also requested a separate chocolate biscuit cake as a groom's cake, which is both his and the Queen's favorite.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana also had a , created by David Avery, which measured five feet tall and was covered in cream-cheese frosting. And the Queen and Prince Philip had a nine-foot-tall, 500-pound , baked by McVitie and Price, with ingredients flown in from around the world, giving it the nickname "" Before that, Queen Victoria served a that was 14 inches deep with just one layer.
Previously, it was that Harry and Meghan wanted to opt for a banana cake, and though they didn't go that route, it's still another sign that this royal couple is decidedly modern.