Harry and Meghan have chosen a London-based baker renowned for her American-style bakes to make their wedding cake.
Chef Claire Ptak, originally from San Francisco and the owner of London based Violet Bakery in Hackney, is set to create a lemon and elderflower masterpiece covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers.
Claire, who only uses organic ingredients and is said to be Jamie Oliver’s ‘favourite’ cake maker, started out on a market stall but has now been chosen to bake the royal wedding cake.
The royal couple will share the cake with their wedding guests on May 19 when they tie the knot at St George’s Chapel.
Claire Ptak, the owner of Violet Bakery, in east London, who is making Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake
Claire’s cakes are decorated with edible flowers. Could this be what Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake will look like?
California-raised, Ptak formerly worked as a pastry chef under the legendary Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California.
Upon moving to London she worked at The Anchor and Hope as well as at St John and Moro.
Ms. Ptak then started her own business as a market stall on Broadway Market, east London, cooking from home.
She opened Violet Bakery in 2010, with a focus on using high quality, seasonal and organic ingredients in her cakes.
She also works as a food stylist and food writer and has written four cookbooks, all with a focus on seasonal baking.
Harry and Meghan celebrating their engagement, they will be married on May 19
Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery in Hackney, east London, who has been chosen to make the cake for the wedding in May of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Claire Ptak’s bakery is an unassuming building in trendy Hackney, east London
Claire Ptak started her business from a market stall and is now creating Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding cake
Who designed William and Kate’s wedding cake?
Fiona Cairns stands proudly next to the Royal Wedding cake that she and her team made for Prince William and Kate Middleton
Renowned cake maker Fiona Cairns made a magnificent eight-tiered wedding cake for Prince William’s marriage to Catherine Middleton back in 2011.
The confectionery masterpiece was covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers.
It took her an astonishing five weeks to create.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are fans of her fruit cakes, while Paul McCartney orders one for Christmas every year, and she has also baked creations for bands Pink Floyd and Simply Red in the past.
St George’s Hall, at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will hold a reception after their wedding
Meghan previously interviewed Ms. Ptak for her former lifestyle website TheTig.com where she celebrated food and travel, and featured interviews with friends and role models to discuss philanthropy and community.
Claire Ptak said: ‘I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms Markle’s wedding cake.
‘Knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality and most importantly flavour, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of.’