Update 16 April: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might have chosen a lemon and elderflower cake for their wedding day, but their guests might have to wait until after the couple’s big day to taste the sugary creation.
Luxury cake maker Fiona Cairns was the brains behind Kate and William’s eight-tier wedding cake in 2011, and revealed some of the secrets of the big day including that no-one actually ate the cake at the pair’s nuptials.
She previously told Town and Country: ‘The actual cake itself, which went on display, was not served at the wedding.'
Instead, the couple's second wedding cake – a traditional royal fruitcake – was cut into pieces to be given for breakfast. Over 600 slices were given, and then an additional 4,000 slices were sent out as gifts which were packaged in Prince of Wales tins when they were delivered.
In 2011, a slice of William and Kate’s fruitcake sold for nearly £6,000 at Julien’s Auction in California.
Forget banana – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen their wedding cake, and it couldn't be more perfect for spring.
The royal couple are moving away from the British tradition of a fruit cake, and have employed Californian pastry chef Claire Ptak to create a lemon elderflower cake to incorporate the bright flavours of the season.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that the cake will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers, and that Harry and Markle are 'very much looking forward to sharing this cake with their wedding guests on May 19th'.
Chef Ptak - who is also a food writer and food stylist - started her own business with a market stall on Broadway Market, East London, cooking from home.
In 2010, she opened London based culinary gem Violet Bakery - described as a small bakery creating American-style cupcakes, brownies and pastries, using high-end ingredients.
Markle previously interviewed Ptak for her former lifestyle website TheTig where she celebrated food and travel, and featured interviews with friends and role models to discuss philanthropy and community.
Ptak said: 'I can't tell you how delighted I am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding cake.
'Knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality and most importantly flavour, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of.'
Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton opted for an eight-tier fruit cake for their 2011 wedding, which was created by Fiona Cairns and took five weeks to complete. It was the centre-piece at their Buckingham Palace reception.
Prince Harry and Markle will be marrying at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on 19 May.
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
