Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
THE ROYAL ICING ON MARY’S CAKE
Go on, indulge yourself with lashings of luscious festive food shows and a feast of fascinating documentaries
47 A BERRY ROYAL CHRISTMAS this Monday, 8.30pm, BBC1
In a very special treat for royal fans, A Berry Royal Christmas sees Mary Berry joining the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they visit charities they support. She then helps them prepare a special feast for staff who’ll be working over the Christmas period.
‘Personally I get a lot out of helping people,’ Prince William tells her. ‘I find that you hear and you learn so much more by giving a bit of your time, a bit of your day, to just be around. Growing up, both my parents were hugely charitable. My father set up The Prince’s Trust and he’s involved in so many different organisations. My mother worked with homelessness, Aids and other charities. I’ve grown up in a household where it has been very much a case of, “Well, we’re very lucky – we must give back.”
‘With my grandmother becoming Queen at a young age when it was a man’s world, it was very difficult for her to make a difference. But she’s done it in her own unique, distinct way. My grandmother and grandfather together are the epitome of public service.’
Mary joins the Duchess of Cambridge in Liverpool, visiting The Brink, the UK’S first dry bar set up by Action On Addiction for alcoholics, before teaming up with the duke for a visit to The Passage, the UK’S largest resource centre for the homeless. Mary and Kate also visit RHS Wisley, which has a garden inspired by the ‘back to nature’ garden the duchess co-designed for the Chelsea Flower Show specifically for children. The show culminates in a Christmas party hosted by the duke and duchess which sees former Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain joining Mary to create an amazing festive feast for the charities’ volunteers. ‘I’m honoured the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have invited me to join them on four of their royal
charity engagements this Christmas,’ says Mary. ‘It’ll be truly special to see the causes so close to their hearts, as well as hear all about the amazing support these charities provide. It’s a Christmas special not to be missed.’