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”
09:57, 24 Mar 2025Updated 10:05, 24 Mar 2025
The Prince and Princess of Wales with Dame Mary Berry in 2019(Image: BBC/Shine TV Ltd/Matt Porteous)
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.
William has sent birthday wishes to Dame Mary who turns 90 today (Image: PA)
“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.
William and Kate made Christmas meringue roulades on the show with Dame Mary(Image: BBC/Shine TV Ltd/Matt Porteous)
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.”
Get Prince William updates straight to your WhatsApp!
As Prince William ramps up his royal duties, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you’ll get all the latest news on the UK’s most famous family.
We’ll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in.
All you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group.
We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
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.”
Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal
WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up to the Mirror’s Royal newsletter here to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.