‘Chocolate eggs are favourites’: Mrs Middleton cracks Easter!

WaiTrOse and the other supermarkets have been criticised for trying to turn easter into christmas, with crackers and gaudy decorations for the holiest week of the year.

But the Duchess of cambridge’s family are doing their best to cash in on this dismal trend.

Her mother, former air hostess carole Middleton, has written an article for a children’s magazine offering a series of banal tips for how to celebrate easter in a bid to boost sales at her mail-order party paraphernalia business.

‘easter is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some crafty activities and playtime fun with friends and family of all ages,’ writes carole, in the style of her younger daughter, Pippa, whose anodyne entertaining tips were published in a widely panned book.

‘ From egg hunts to egg and balloon decorating, bunny- hop races and mask-making, little ones will love getting involved.’

carole says: ‘since easter is a spring holiday, make the most of popping pastel colours.

‘Decorate the space with banners, printed cushions and seasonal flowers — and if you’re hosting your party in the garden, hang paper baskets and bunting from the trees to catch the breeze.’ sagely, she advises readers to co-ordinate their table decorations with ‘themed paper plates and cups’.

she says: ‘Fill vases or shredded brown paper “nests” with mini chocolate eggs or eggs hand-painted in vibrant colours.’

When it comes to children’s games, carole suggests: ‘Toddlers will love donning their bunny ears and taking part in a sack or egg and spoon race. Give each child a pillow case or hessian sack to hop in — and let them go!’

carole reserves her most fatuous advice for what to eat.

‘chocolate bunnies and eggs are favourites, but you could also mix it up with an array of sweet treats.

‘Try mini meringues decorated as chicks, muffins baked in mini terracotta flowerpots, or hot cross bun cookies.’

However did we manage before the Middletons arrived at the heart of our public life?