Prince William has sent a special message to former Bake Off judge Mary Berry, who turns 90 today, wishing her a very happy birthday and calling her a “true national treasure”
Prince William has sent a surprise message to cooking legend Dame Mary Berry to mark her 90th birthday – and joked about her birthday cake. Dame Mary reaches the milestone birthday today, and her “extraordinary life and career” is being celebrated during a special episode of BBC’s The One Show tonight.
Among the famous faces sending birthday wishes to her is the Prince of Wales, who memorably joined Mary with his wife Kate for a special TV Christmas baking challenge in 2019. In a message played on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, William said: “Hi Mary. I want to wish you a very happy 90th birthday. You are a true national treasure and we’ve loved working with you over the years. Have a fantastic day today.
“I dread to think who’s cooking your cake and the criticism they might get, but good luck and I hope it goes really well.” The video message will also be shown on The One Show in the special episode as presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp speak to Dame Mary about her life and career.
The One Show will also feature celebrity guests including The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman, as well as former The Great British Bake Off presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
Dame Mary left Bake Off in 2016 when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4. She has written more than 80 cookery books, becoming a UK household name thanks to her recipes and tips, and was made a Dame Commander by William in 2021 for a lifetime of cooking, writing and baking.
In the memorable TV special over five years ago, William and Kate joined Dame Mary to make meringue roulades – where a sheet of meringue is covered in a cream filling and rolled up – as they held a party for emergency workers who would be on duty on Christmas Day.
Judging their efforts, Mary said: “It’s a draw. I don’t want to quarrel with either of you. Well done for being so sporting – I know you’re both very competitive.” As they made their desserts, Mary asked Kate if William ever cooks at home, and she revealed: “He’s very good at breakfast. He used to cook for me at university – I think he was trying to impress me.”
Kate also revealed that Mary had an effect on their three children, in particular Prince Louis, by revealing: “One of Louis’s first words was Mary because right at his height are all my cooking books in the kitchen bookshelf. Your face is all over your cooking books and he would say, ‘That’s Mary Berry’.”
Meanwhile, last month on a trip to Wales to mark St David’s Day, both William and Kate got to work making Welsh cakes, with Dame Mary also getting a mention from the Prince of Wales. Kate looked impressed at William’s efforts and said: “Those are so good. How did you do that?” And William joked: “Well I don’t know, my stunning bakery skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.”
TV chef Jamie Oliver was also among those sending Dame Mary best wishes, posting on Instagram: “Happy 90th Birthday to the one and only @DameMaryBerry !! I think I can safely say on behalf of all of us, you are a true inspiration!!
“Lovely people please send lots of birthday love her way and she’s just joined Instagram too so make sure you give her a follow! Big love joxx.”
