A Berry Royal Christmas aired last night in the UK. Sorry, it airs tonight, my bad. I couldn’t find anything on YouTube, so I guess they haven’t put online yet, or maybe Kensington Palace gets first dibs on the cutesy clips of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cooking and baking and interacting with the legendary Mary Berry (see below). As for what was revealed on the Christmas special… Kate used to be a waitress? And William used to cook for Kate in their university days, and he still knows how to make breakfast. Some of the Daily Mail’s coverage:
Kate Middleton has revealed Prince William tried to woo her with his cooking skills while they were at university together. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met while both studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. And according to Kate, 37, Wills used to cook up ‘all sorts of meals’ in the kitchen in an attempt to win over her affections. Speaking to Mary Berry on A Berry Royal Christmas, which airs tonight at 8:30pm on BBC One, the mother-of-three confessed that Bolognese sauce was one of his speciality dishes.
‘In university days he used to cook all sorts of meals,’ she told the baking legend. ‘I think that’s when he was trying to impress me, Mary! Things like Bolognese sauce, and things like that.’ Asked if he cooks for her now, Kate replied: ‘He sometimes does actually – he’s very good at breakfast.’
These days it’s Kate who does most of the cooking at home, with William having previously admitted in the programme: ‘I can do tea, Mary, but not cooking. Catherine is definitely the one who cooks, not me.’
The duchess also revealed in the one-off show that she once worked as a waitress while at university – but confessed she was ‘terrible’ when Mary asked if she was any good.
Asked who bakes the birthday cakes in their household, the duchess revealed it’s her – and it’s become quite a passionate endeavour. ‘I love making the cake,’ she told Mary. ‘It’s become a bit of a traditional that I sort of stay up until midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing, I make far too much, but I love it.’
Kate admitted one of her youngest son’s first words was ‘Mary’ because the royal household is stocked with Mary Berry’s cook books. ‘One of Louis’ first words was ”Mary”, because right at his height are all my cooking books in the kitchen bookshelf,’ Kate exclaimed. ‘And children are really fascinated by faces, and your faces are all over your cooking books and he would say “That’s Mary Berry”… so he would definitely recognise you if he saw you today.’
Following the unique one-hour special, Mary shared her admiration for the royal couple’s love for one another and compared it to the bond shared by pigeons who mate for life. Speaking to You magazine, she said: ‘They really are a pigeon couple. When they are together, he’s constantly touching her arm and looking over at her smiling and she’s the same with him. So natural.’ Sharing her thoughts on the royal couple, Mary added: ‘It was easy to see that William is very proud of Catherine.’
“A pigeon couple” must be more of a British expression. I had no idea that Kate waitressed. I doubt that lasted very long! Once she started up with William, my guess is that she never waitressed again. Instead, she learned how to waity. *rimshot* As for some of Louis’s first words being “Mary” – that’s odd. But whatever. It sounds like it was a cute program.
Here are two clips from the special which Kensington Palace posted on social media:
"Being outside and being in nature is such a great environment for children to learn lifelong skills." — The Duchess of Cambridge on her work in the Early Years sector. #ABerryRoyalChristmas pic.twitter.com/HEFGCrBNhb
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 16, 2019
"It had a profound impact on me." — The Duke of Cambridge on the visits he made in his youth to the @PassageCharity with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales #ABerryRoyalChristmas pic.twitter.com/LEsgUrbtnU
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 15, 2019
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Instagram.
About the whole Mary being Louis’ first word, I think it was Kate trying to just make a joke and flatter Mary at the same time. But instead of some people going “aw!” They’re going “wait what?”. Even Chris Ship went “Yeah I don’t believe that”
The problem bid the headline. The actual article doesn’t say that Mary was Louis first word, but “one of his first words”. And that changes the meaning.
It could be a lie, or it could be that since “Mary Barry” sounds funny for a little boy, he liked it and said it.
One of my nephews first words was Barack Obama, because he just liked the sounds.
One of my nephews first words was Barack Obama, because he just liked the sounds.
Also, she says it was from the cookbook spine, so she’s talking about reading. If he knows the face on the book cover is Mary, then recognizing the word as well wouldn’t be hard. Also Mary is pretty easy to read. Capital M, the y at the end.
I think this is true for many things that Will and Kate say off-the-cuff – they think they are saying something cute or relatable, and it comes off kind of odd. (thinking of Will’s comment about how hard it is to spend time with his kids, etc.) I dont think Louis’ first word was actully Mary – like you said, i think it was more a joke, or an exaggeration, and it kind of came off….odd. I’m not overthinking it like some other people (I saw some comments about WHY WASNT MOMMY OR DADDY HIS FIRST WORD) and I think that’s definitely taking the comment a bit too far.
I just thought it came off as odd when Kate was trying to be funny, most likely.
Louis probably repeated Mary berry because she was being mentioned a lot at a time where he would be listening. He wasn’t reading the cookbooks though and it seems dumb that it comes off like that’s how he learned to say it.
Like how William visited China in 2015 and Kate told people George went to the china cabinet and said “Daddy is not here.”
What a cute made up story, lol.
I actually believe this one. My husband travels frequently to China and for several months when she was that age, our little one would fret over the china cupboard and look for her father.
It airs tonight! I am actually looking forward to it
It airs tonight at 8:30 U.K. time – I think the papers and of course KP just got a preview of what was coming.
It’s on the BBC tonight so probably why no clips yet.
I thought it aired tonight, the 16th?
It looks like a cute program and if its up on youtube I’ll watch it.
I updated! Sorry I thought with all of the coverage in the british media that it aired last night.
Their main nannies name is Maria, so it wouldn’t surprise me if ‘Mari’ was one of his first words.
Good catch.
Wasn’t Kate a, uhm, “yacht girl” in the summer while at uni or during her gap year? Maybe she “waitressed” then.
I do want to see this. And also the GBBO charity show with the Derry Girls cast.
Does yacht girl have a different meaning in other places or did you really just call her a prostitute?
GBBO and Derry Girls, what what what?!?!?
@AllKinds, it means sex worker everywhere.
Looked into this – I knew it was a waitressing job on a yacht but didn’t know much else. Found an article from the Fail from April 15 2011 that details it as a job waitressing for corporate clients on yachts belonging to Sir Chay Blyth who noted in his interview about it that she had the shortest shorts on board and that they had to tell her not to serve around open hatches because it was a “bit revealing for anyone below deck”.
(that said, I’m sure nothing else happened – super gross employer, though.)
I need the Derry Girls in everything
@Enn. Yea, I was pretty sure that was the implication, I guess I was just hoping I misread it. Clearly we are ok with those kinds of labels around here depending on the target.
This was what I was thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised if a shortened version of Maria really was one of his first words. It’s a natural sound for am infant to make. *shrug*
Infants have real problems pronouncing the ‘r’ sound. I doubt it came out sounding like Mary.
I love MaryBerry, don’t love basic Bill and Cathy’s attempts to basic maneuver the BRF Andy scandal out of view. Yes I know that program was set up before all of that hit but that is what the program has become. Pass from me.
I just want the recipes,amd hope we get it in Australia. 🐨
Same. Although in US we won’t get it unless Netflix snaps it up and airs it next Christmas season :'(
Maybe BBC America will play it? Or YouTube? Or as a last resort, use a VPN and play it on the iPlayer app. Shows usually are on there a day, or a couple of days, after they air in the UK.
It is on YouTube already!
Aw, thanks, TheOG)@Jan90067 – you’re the one with all the info today! 😊
I still don’t like Will and Kate, but Mary Berry reminds me SO MUCH of my grandma that it almost makes me cry grateful tears to see her in action.
I get the same way when I watch Ina Garten. She reminds me a lot of my mom with her dark bobbed hair, so it’s like a comfort to watch her because I feel like I’m watching my mom.
It sounds sweet and they also sound like airheads.
All these efforts are worthwhile. That said, compare and contrast with Meghan ‘ cookbook project for victims of the Grenville fire. Such differect visions…
Yep feeding the homeless and bringing attention to addiction help centers and homeless centers have no impact or meaning.
Honestly I’m tired of everyone making it a competition. And frankly looking for ways to attack one of them. None of them are that serious, they are all fine and there is no need to attack or slam one in the hopes of making the other look better.
IMO it makes them all look small and none are.
They aren’t feeding the homeless. The special was about making food for the charity’s staff – which is admirable but not a large scale operation for the community. But of course it was William’s idea – plenty of happy family PR.
Frankly, at this point it IS a competition – the Cambridges are the ones making it so.
How exactly are they bringing attention to addiction besides a couple of meetings here and there?
I said all the efforts are worthwhile. I suggested they made for an interesting comparison. That is all. Both couples are entitled to express their differing ways of how to use their position. Each of us may feel more comfortable with one or the other – or like both! As bystanders we sometimes think, “What would I do if I were in their shoes…” and the different approaches give ideas.
Since Mary Berry is a national treasure and will draw a large audience, W+K are raising awareness of the problem and introducing a charity people can donate to or volunteer with.
I do compare with Meghan AND Harry’s work and find the Cambridges sorely lacking.
You could say all Meghan did is turn up for a few photo opps at Hubb and wrote a flowery foreword… but obviously you wouldn’t. Although I’m sure you would if this was all the other way around. All they need to do is raise awareness for their causes – that is what they are all doing.
What are you talking about? She was instrumental in launching the cookbook that allowed the Hubb kitchen to be remodeled and allowed the women volunteering to start up their own individual initiatives, and she worked on it with them for nine months.
You know that because you went to every meeting with her? What I’m saying is that what you see publicly is Meghan turn up to a photo op and launch. Her PR tells you that she was working on it for 9 months behind the scenes and that it was all her idea. You all believe it and say she’s so brilliant – working even when she’s off!!! When Kate has behind the scenes meetings I constantly see comments here about how meetings at home don’t count and they are only having them to bolster numbers and look less lazy. And somehow when she turns up in public it’s still not enough. You all have one rule to prove Meghan is SO hard working even when we don’t see it but the same rule to prove Kate is SO lazy. It’s all PR from both sides. You just only believe the projected narrative from one of them.
LMAO their PR is so desperate. At the beginning was fun but it’s a little embarassing now.
It is very embarrassing, especially all the constant references to their children. Frankly the Cambridge’s are a very boring couple and they know it, and to keep people a bit interested they have to constantly talk about their kids. DM is trying so hard to get people to comment on Cambridge stories but even this Mary Berry story couldn’t do it. Meanwhile a non story about the Sussexes non attendance at the BP Xmas parties has attracted thousands of comments. People just pretend to hate Harry and Meghan, the truth is they can’t get enough of them.
The popularity of the Sussexes has forced William to go against his much earlier position that he wanted to keep his kids out of the spotlight for as long as possible. Some serious meetings must have gone on to thrash out ideas on how to gain popularity. So we have them teaming up with national treasure Mary Berry, and more silly titbits about their kids. I am still betting on the kids being wheeled out to attend church on Xmas Day…with the absence of the Sussexes and the Andrew scandal some kind of positive front page story is very much required.
That picture of Kate rolling dough with that ring on is giving me anxiety. I’m sure she has people to clean it for her, but speaking from experience, getting dough out of a delicate setting is a pain in the butt and requires a lot of patience and toothpicks.
Please don’t use toothpicks, you’ll loosen your prongs! Soak dirty rings in a mixture of very hot water and dish soap for an hour or so, then rinse under the tap.
My sister wears her rings while cooking/baking and this gets them clean. I always take mine off.
I use an ultrasonic cleaner now which works pretty well, but sometimes you still have to get the toothpicks out. I am obsessive about clean jewelry! I can’t stand when people wear big, gorgeous rings that look dingy because they haven’t been cleaned since they were purchased.
The ultrasonic will also contribute to loose stones. Trust me, I’ve been a jeweler for over a decade.
DO NOT use a toothpick! As En said, hot water, a little “Dawn” dish soap (it *does* cut skin oil residue amazingly well!!), and use a SOFT TOOTHBRUSH to gently “scrub” anything stuck in the setting. This is the best way.
I also got that ultrasonic cleaner that CB had in a past post here (fill it with warm water and a few drops of Dawn liquid), and that works alright (takes 3 runs); but I still take the toothbrush and give it a bit of a clean under some hot water to “rinse”.
My jewelry sparkles like mad after doing either one of these.
I wash my wedding/engagement set with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush under warm water. A jeweler gave me that suggestion. It always ends up sparkling.
That ring is so ugly. It sucks that she has to wear it all the time.
I think the only one forcing Kate to wear that ring is Kate. I think she’d find a lot of support both within the family and with the larger public if she were to choose a different ring for say their 20th anniversary. They could put the sapphire in a tiara for Charlotte’s 18th.
A baby toothbrush works great for cleaning really delicate stuff. I got one for cleaning stains off clothes (doesn’t muck up fabric) but now I use them for lots of things. Grab a pack when on sale.
I’ve suspected it’s a copy for a long time. Remember when she stuck it in the dough at a scout outing? Went zip lining in the jungle with it on? Wore it sailing? The real Diana ring is in the vault somewhere and copies would be inexpensive to make.
My feeling too.
This is part of the charm offensive by the royal family to enamor themselves to the hearts of the people.
I am sure it will for some people.
#Istillsayabolish
#notworkingforme
If they actually haul out the kids to do the Christmas walk with Andy, this charm offensive will have been for naught. Supporting Mary Berry is one thing, showing support for pedo Andy is another.
Such sweet bullshit
Meant to be a charity show but all the quotes that they’ve put out there are focused in them yet I don’t think we’ll see people giving out about them making it all about them and not the charities.
I like how they had to recruit Mary Berry to gush about their perfect marriage lmao.
William “Kate connected the dots”, woohooo, now how about some real work. Why do so many charities have the top people living large (multimillionaire). Like, no I didn’t give my money to go you I gave to the child living in the shelter who needs a new backpack, it makes them unrelatable to the people they “help”, makes me mad and defeats the purpose. If there is a hell that’s where they’re going.
Wow, don’t you think that’s a bit…much? Going to hell for going on tv with Mary Berry? Okay then.
Stealing from poor kids to pay yourself first and live it up.
“Stealing from poor kids to pay yourself first and live it up.”
I’m no Cambridge stan, but I’m pretty sure they have never ever done that.
Spot on! I work for NGOs and this is very common. Many people set up charities to set up an income/lifestyle for themselves. It’s actually one of the industries that generates the most millionaires.
I mean, I’m pretty sure royals don’t earn a separate salary/fee for the charity work they do, although I suppose if they set up a foundation and then do work on its behalf they might be able to get some expenses reimbursed. (Hopefully they aren’t so tacky as to ask for that, considering their immense wealth!)
This is very lame and I will not be tuning in to their obvious pr/image management stunt.
I can’t wait to watch it whenever it shows at my end.
It’s possible he says “Mary Berry” as one word like “marionberry”. It’s probably just a funny word to him.
Goodness me,its a cringe fest!!
The obvious scripted questions and Mary’s “A pigeon couple” comment is so sad. It’s almost like a validation segment and he randomly had to put out that katie keen took credit for suggesting they work on mental health!!
The whole thing is about talking about themselves but no surprise their mouthpieces I mean daily fail RR R.English would take notice🙄
I watched a clip with Kate and Mary Berry and it was so awkward. Kate mentioned how she and the kids made her pizza dough and Kate thought it was such a hilarious and wonderful Coincidence and Mary was like “oh did you?” and seemed totally nonplussed and then it was like she thought, “oh she is expecting more of a reaction” lol. But it was still awkward.
And the quotes about their marriage are cringe-worthy. It seems she was clearly told she had to praise their marriage and emphasize how much they love each other.
Oh geez ! The number of times poor William has had to tell people that the mental health project was Kate’s idea. After so many years William is still having to continually tell us that his wife is useful instead of us being able to work it out ourselves or hear it from her own mouth.
This is a PR offensive and needed more because of Andrew’s mess. KP wanted it to be known that William help give Andrew the boot but not once did Charles sought William’s counsel. Charles talked to Mom and Dad.
I think this is more of a stunt to boost the boring Cambridge’s who are trying to keep up with the dynamic Sussexes.
Their PR is on overdrive! Still dont like them.
That lead picture of Kate reminds me of Karen Carpenter (PBS just aired a Xmas special on the Carpenters). The same haircut, the same bony chin but fleshed out cheeks, the same loose, long-sleeved dress, the same tiny waist (except in Kate’s case it is her tiny rib cage). At what point are people, and Kate, going to be concerned about her being so underweight. And, no, I am not body shaming…. This is not a normal weight for Kate (see University pics) and pointing out a potential eating disorder, like any other medical and/or mental health condition, will hopefully bring both attention to and treatment of the issue.
Mary I don’t think you are body shaming – Kate is not at her natural weight and has been a shadow of her former self since the engagement (pictures don’t lie). It’s no doubt the elephant in the room when it comes to her immediate family & the extended royal family. In light of Diana’s history, they probably find it disturbing and realize how unhealthy it is, but Kate is an adult and they can’t force her to seek help. I’m speculating here, for all we know she has sought help and is slowly on the way to recovery….
I’ve always rejoiced in her figure and weight when she was pregnant.
Because she has maintained this weight through all of her pregnancies, and because she seems to stay right around the same weight instead of vacillating, I think it highly probable this is a natural weight for her.
Sure, it’s possible she’s been restricting to an unhealthy degree for like 8 years now, but I think it more likely that–like a lot of tall, lanky women–she settled into a leaner shape in her late 20’s than she had in her post-adolescent years.
Most of us transition from our teenage selves to our “fully cooked” adult bodies and faces in the mid-late 20’s. It is very possible that this is simply her body type. I had friends who were tall and athletic in high school who became tall and extremely slender in adulthood. Small hips and boobs, long limbs, and very slim. It IS a shape God makes, and though I don’t share it (sigh), I’ve seen it on women I know and witness being fit and healthy in their eating habits.
I think it’s a stretch to assume she’s ill. She might be. Sure could be. But it’s not a given, and it must be so tiring for women who are naturally tall and extremely willowy to constantly have to defend themselves for it. I am naturally plump, even at a healthy BMI, and I constantly have to defend myself for it. It’s exhausting, and I wish people would just let women live in the bodies they were given.
Kate wasn’t a teenager or in her early twenties when she got engaged.
Cake mix?
And how would Louis read Mary so it could be one of his first words? Why would the cookbook placement matter?
But William apparently set the whole thing up as something he wanted Kate to do. I hope he asked her before speaking to Mary.
Well, kids look at and play with items that are at their eye level. In my kitchen, the cookbooks were on a low shelf with some common-use kitchen items (mixing bowl set and a canister of cooking utensils, etc.)
My daughter knew who Martha Stewart was very early in toddlerhood because her face was on the heaviest cookbook and faced out on the end to keep the others from flopping over. Every day, she would play with spatulas and spoons and bowls while I cooked, and there was Martha’s name and face–right in her line of sight.
My Offspring: Who this?
Me: That’s Martha Stewart.
My Offspring (five minutes later): Who this?
Me: That’s Martha Stewart. She’s a lady who cooks pretty things.
My Offspring (at some point later in babyhood): This lady Marta Soort.
“Marta Soort” was an early spoken word for her. So…I’m not sure why everyone’s so angry that Kate would suggest something similar from her own home. I mean, I smiled. It’s cute. And I’ve seen it happen.
“Instead she learned how to waity. *rimshot*” Oh man, my first cackle of the day. Thank you for that, Kaiser!
I think Louis has watched many Mary Berry cookery shows on TV – nothing else makes sense. Plonk him in front of telly with Mary Berry on – a non-violent programme with a woman cooking away in a kitchen. I don’t for one second believe he learned her name from any other source.
As for Kate staying up past midnight, making loads of cakes and too much icing while loving every minute of it – sorry, no.
Can’t stand that red dress with the pussy bow she had added – she looks like a big, out of touch silly, totally disconnected from the real world and drinking her own kool aid by the gallon.
I will watch anything with Nadiya and Mary Berry.
To be honest it’s very in their brand and cute.
I’m not body shaming but it doesn’t exactly look like she enjoys baking and eating the cakes. She’s been looking fragile since the engagement. Even after uni days it was reported her friends are scared because she got thin and she’s been gotten thinner even after kids and aging. I look at Pippa who was the thinner and sportier one and she looks more healthy.
The full show is now on YouTube if anyone wants to watch. Not an authorized copy. I recommend watching soon before it’s pulled down.
Re: the pigeon couple quote, it’s kind of bizarre how low the bar is for these people. The revelation that two married couple are affectionate toward each other is taking up space in a news story. They are literally being praised for acting human.
Oh my god! Kate slipped and bbc aired her flinching at Wills touch!!! If theres any proof to the claims that its just a marriage of convenience at this point..
https://twitter.com/mcbride_caitlin/status/1206688540991655936?s=19
She really does shake his hand off. I wonder if she’s still pissed at him?
I saw that clip and it was definitely weird the way she shrugged him off. Some sour Fail columnist gave the program a cynical review, which was quite surprising but I like Mary Berry. Not into Christmas baking but curious to see what recipes they made. I guess it’s ok for those particular royals to be on scripted television without it bringing out all the tabloid knives about them craving Hollywood attention. Can you imagine the nasty column inches and think pieces if it was someone else.
In the comments, there’s a clip of William pushing her away at a sports event. Wtf, William. Rude!
I just finished it on you tube! I love Mary and Nadiya. William was fine when he was with them. Kate just seems so awkward. The only time she seemed to warm up was around the kids. And William used to cook for Kate to impress her? Sure, Jan.
Watched it on youtube. She does NOT relate to children well: this girl tells Kate ‘It’s my birthday today.’ , while Kate stands behind a table of cakes. She congratulates her but doesn’t even ask the kid how old she is or even her name, the things that are normal and really matter to kids. Her interaction lacks real warmth and is very generic. Wish people didn’t fall for the Saint Kate PR image.
I love it. Love everything about it. Love all what they are doing to help people. Without these 2 I would have never learned about mental health and tried to fight my own problems which I did by now and that’s because of these 2. I don’t care about material work as much as I do for the long lasting impact and these 2 gave me that. I appreciate the work of harry and Meghan too. I loved every minute of the documentary and wish they do do something like this again next year. Ps( I respect your comments and thoughts so please respect mine ❤love for all of you from lebanon) ( and outside of this story Kaiser please need some Christian bale content love your blog even if we don’t agree that often) I am a very shy person and writing is already giving me enough problems so please be nice with me.
It’s okay to like what you like. Good for you that they have been a positive influence.
@CRYSTALBALL
I felt the same. It’s a cringe fest! Her fans are gushing about this HIGHLY scripted show but its crigy to watch especially Wills interrogating that poor women about her addiction with shallow remarks about her being sober 🙈
I don’t know how to download segments/ cut clips but theres a moment where Mary rolls her eyes during Williams random speaking at the homeless centre and she almost snaps at Kate’s rambling before they make cocktails🙈
That’s really interesting about Mary B.’s reaction – I’ll have to watch it again.
You see the truth too – too many are taken in by her faked interest. Before marriage, she had no interest in all this – and Mary would have had zero interest in her. Palace PR turned a nobody into a somebody. And no, she will never deserve a gold star.