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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake was a lemon and elderflower cake, created by London-based baker Claire Ptak. The cake broke with royal tradition, as most royal wedding cakes are fruit cakes. The couple opted for a spring-inspired cake, covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. The elderflower flavour was a nod to Queen Elizabeth II, as the liqueur is made from flowers harvested at one of her private homes.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Baker | Claire Ptak |
Flavour | Lemon and elderflower |
Cake type | Sponge |
Number of cakes | 3 |
Cake tiers | 1 two-tier cake and 2 single-tier cakes |
Cake decorations | 150 fresh flowers (mostly British peonies and roses) and green foliage |
Cake stands | Gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection |
Cake filling | Elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream |
Cake cost | $70,000 |
What You'll Learn
The cake was lemon and elderflower-flavoured
The couple chose London-based baker Claire Ptak to create their cake. Ptak, who owns Violet Cakes in London, is known for her low-intervention baking and use of organic ingredients. She bakes moist sponge cakes with incredible fillings made from fresh fruits, homemade caramel, and premium Valrhona chocolate.
The royal cake was a spring-inspired choice, with a light and refreshing flavour. It was made with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, butter, flour, and sugar. Ptak also incorporated 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial, which added a floral note to the batter and the swiss meringue buttercream frosting.
The cake was aesthetically beautiful, with three separate pieces: one two-tier cake and two single-tier cakes, adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses. The cake was displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection.
The cost of the cake was estimated to be around $70,000, a small fortune, but fitting for a royal wedding with a guest list that included Oprah Winfrey and James Corden.
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It was made by London-based baker Claire Ptak
Ptak expressed her delight at being chosen to make the royal wedding cake, saying:
> "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."
Ptak and her team created the cake in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, instead of her own bakery kitchen. The cake was a lemon and elderflower flavour, inspired by the spring wedding date and incorporating a nod to the Queen. The elderflower cordial used in the cake was made from flowers harvested at one of the Queen's private homes.
The cake was also decorated with fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses, and displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection.
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The cake was decorated with fresh flowers
The flowers were not the only decorations on the cake. The stark white exterior of the elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream had a bit of texture added to the top of each tier. The cake was also adorned with fresh blooms and green foliage. The overall effect was a modest yet beautiful display.
The fresh flowers were not the only decorations on the cake. The cake designer, Claire Ptak, also added texture to the top of each tier. The result was a modest yet beautiful display that paid homage to the royal family and Meghan's native Los Angeles.
The flowers were also chosen to symbolise the springtime wedding. The cake itself was a lemon and elderflower flavour, inspired by the couple's spring wedding date. The fresh flowers added to the springtime aesthetic, with their mix of British peonies, roses, and green foliage.
The fresh flowers were chosen to be in keeping with the overall theme of the wedding, which was a celebration of spring and a nod to the royal family and Meghan's native Los Angeles. The flowers added a touch of elegance and freshness to the cake, which was otherwise a stark white.
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It was inspired by Meghan's native LA
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was designed to honour Meghan's native Los Angeles. The cake designer, Claire Ptak, who was raised in California, infused the cake with a Californian connection. The result was a lemon and elderflower cake—a flavour profile chosen by the couple to make "something really British".
The cake was inspired by the couple's spring wedding date, and featured a light, refreshing taste. It was made with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, butter, flour, sugar, and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial. The elderflower cordial was a nod to Queen Elizabeth II, as it is made from flowers harvested at one of her private homes.
The cake was aesthetically beautiful, with a modest size compared to other royal wedding cakes. It consisted of three separate pieces: one two-tier wedding cake and two single-tier cakes, adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses. The cakes were displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection.
The royal couple chose to break with tradition by opting for a spring-inspired, buttercream-covered cake that honoured Meghan's Californian roots. The cake was a unique and memorable part of their wedding celebration.
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It cost around $70,000
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cost a small fortune. Experts place the total cost for the cake at around $70,000, which is a generous budget for an entire wedding. The royal wedding cake featured top-end ingredients, including 200 Amalfi lemons shipped from the Italian coast to London. The cake was also assembled and decorated by a team of bakers led by Claire Ptak, a renowned East London-based baker and owner of Violet Cakes.
The cake's high cost can be attributed to the use of premium ingredients, such as organic eggs from Suffolk and butter, flour, and sugar. In addition, the elderflower cordial used in the cake was made from flowers harvested at one of Queen Elizabeth's private homes, adding to the expense. The cake also required intricate assembly and decoration, with 150 fresh flowers, mostly British peonies and roses, adorning the three separate pieces that made up the final display.
The $70,000 price tag for the wedding cake is particularly notable when compared to the cost of other aspects of the wedding. For example, the dress that Meghan Markle wore for her wedding to Prince Harry was a custom-made Givenchy gown, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller. While the exact cost of the dress is unknown, custom wedding gowns from high-end designers typically range from $20,000 to $100,000 or more.
The high cost of the wedding cake also reflects the overall expense of the royal wedding. The wedding was a lavish affair, with a star-studded guest list that included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and James Corden. The venue, St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, is a historic and prestigious location that added to the overall cost of the event.
The $70,000 price tag for the wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is a testament to the couple's desire for a unique and memorable cake that incorporated high-quality ingredients and intricate craftsmanship. The cake was a focal point of the wedding, and its cost reflects the importance placed on this aspect of the celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
Harry and Meghan chose a lemon and elderflower cake.
The cake was made by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who owns Violet Cakes in East London.
The cake was made using 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, butter, flour, sugar, and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial.
The cake cost around $70,000.