LET THEM EAT CAKE
How sweet! Prince William and Duchess Kate open up during a holiday bake-off
IT was the royal bake-off that endeared Prince William and Kate Middleton to the Internet — and now The Post has the recipe.
Millions of people have been cooing about the chemistry between the married couple on the British television special “A Berry Royal Christmas” while salivating over the orange curd roulade they made during a lighthearted contest on the show.
“You need to taste it as you go,” Prince William cheerfully comments while rolling up his meringue roulade dessert, which was then topped with drizzles of chocolate and decorative Christmas trees.
The hourlong special — yet to be aired in the US — features the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chatting with beloved former “The Great British Baking Show” judge Mary Berry, who turned 84 this year.
It shows the trio visiting four charities around Great Britain, assembling their matching roulades alongside 2015 bake-off champion Nadiya Hussain and hosting a holiday party to thank those who work over the festive season.
Perhaps most fascinating for viewers is the show’s insight into the royals’ private life. For example, we learn that the couple’s elder son, Prince George, 6, keeps a small “museum” of treasures he collects, including a crab’s claw; their 4-yearold daughter, Princess Charlotte, adores Charlotte potatoes; and one of the first words of younger son Prince Louis, 1, was “Mary” because one of Berry’s cookbooks was kept at toddler height in their kitchen.
During the bake-off, Kate confides to Berry that her husband sometimes cooks for her.
“He is very good at breakfast,” she says, before reflecting on their days at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where they first met in 2001. “He used to cook all sorts of meals [then],” adds Kate. “I think it was when he was trying to impress me, Mary. Things like Bolognese sauce.”
Once the royals put the finishing touches on their desserts, Berry declares the competition a draw, saying: “I’m not quarreling with either of you!”
In another part of the documentary, the duchess gives the host a tour of her new garden in the British county of Surrey. She speaks about her kids’ love of being outdoors and her desire to encourage families to spend time together and “focus on the simple things.”
“Sometimes when it’s chucking it down with rain and it’s freezing cold and I’m dragging [the children] outside, they would probably rather be staying inside,” she laughs. “But I think it’s so important.”
Social awareness comes up repeatedly, with 37-year-old Prince William revealing that visits he made in his youth with his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to the homeless charity the Passage had a “profound impact” on him.
The second in line to the UK throne also shares that Prince George and Princess Charlotte see homeless people on their way to school and ask: “Why can’t they go home?” Their father makes it a priority to discuss the struggles faced by others and explain how fortunate the royals are in their privileged position.
Meanwhile, fashion watchers have been impressed by the outfits worn by Kate on the show.
The most coveted one is a midlength red silk-jacquard dress with a pussy-bow collar. It was custommade by one of the duchess’ favorite designers, Alessandra Rich, but mere mortals can buy a version of the dress on sale at Net-a-Porter for a cool $970.
But even if you can’t cop her look, you can try your hand at the delightful dessert she made! At right, learn how to make a version of the festive roulade, a Swiss roll.