Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Wedding Cake Details Are Revealed: See the Pastry Chef’s Previous Creations
Chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla cream, meringue, coconut, cocoa, cream cheese, champagne, pear, fig, honey… funfetti? When it comes to wedding cake flavors, the mouthwatering options are oftentimes endless. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have narrowed it down to one popular fruit flavor with the help of their designated wedding pastry chef, whose identity was revealed Tuesday, March 20.
With less than two months to go until the nuptials, Kensington Palace made the announcement fittingly on the first day of spring. “For their wedding cake Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have chosen pastry chef Claire Ptak, owner of the London-based bakery Violet Cakes,” the statement read.
Ptak is an American pastry chef who was previously based in California. She worked under the renowned Alice Waters whose seasonal restaurant Chez Panisse is based in Berkeley, California. Ptak eventually moved to London, where she initially worked at The Anchor and Hope. She then went on to start her own business—in a stall—at the Broadway Market.
In 2010, Ptak opened Violet Bakery. “[She] focuses on using seasonal and organic ingredients in her cakes. Ms. Markle previously interviewed Chef Ptak for her former lifestyle website The Tig,” Kensington Palace added. “Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are looking forward to sharing the cake with guests at their wedding at Windsor Castle on May 19th.” (Indeed, Markle ran a lifestyle blog that included everything from her favorite books of 2017 to her passion projects, largely centered around food. The site was shut down after public interest in Markle surged following the revelation of her relationship with Harry.)
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Mar 20, 2018 at 4:00am PDT
The palace also shared details of the confection itself. The couple has apparently requested “a lemon elderflower cake that will incorporate the bright flavors of spring. It will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers.”
In a separate statement, Ptak reacted to the honor of baking the cake of the year. “I can’t tell you how delighted am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms. Markle’s wedding cake,” she noted. “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.”
Previously, it was speculated that the couple would commission a banana cake, since it’s Harry’s favorite fruit. The couple’s latest choice breaks from royal wedding tradition of opting for the traditional fruit cake. Prince William and Kate Middleton also went with the historic option–an eight-tier confection baked by Fiona Cairns which included walnuts, raisins and French brandy–for their 2011 wedding.
See Ptak’s other creations below to gather inspiration ahead of the royal wedding.
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:09am PST
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Nov 26, 2017 at 9:15am PST
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Feb 9, 2018 at 5:45am PST
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Sep 27, 2017 at 7:16am PDT
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Sep 10, 2017 at 8:23am PDT
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Mar 15, 2018 at 10:50am PDT
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Feb 16, 2018 at 10:10am PST
A merry December birthday cake with sugared bay leaves and candied cranberry xx
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Dec 16, 2017 at 4:50am PST
Mocha gluten free birthday cake for @joolsoliver from @jamieoliver H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
A post shared by Violet By Claire Ptak (@violetcakeslondon) on Dec 2, 2017 at 12:31am PST
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