As Prince William and Princess Kate approach their 15th wedding anniversary on April 29, celebrity baker Fiona Cairns recounts her front-row experience at Westminster Abbey during their 2011 ceremony. She crafted the couple’s elaborate eight-tier cake and describes the surreal atmosphere surrounded by stars like the Beckhams and Guy Ritchie.

Atmosphere on the Big Day

“I couldn’t quite believe we were actually there; I still can’t when I think of it,” Cairns says. “Big screens inside showed the excitement from outside. It was history, and we were part of it.”

A few days later, Kate personally inquired about her view: “Could you see? Did you have a good view?” Cairns replied affirmatively, touched by the princess’s thoughtfulness.

The Pivotal Phone Call

Weeks earlier, Cairns’s late husband Kishore, her business partner at the time, received the call that transformed their lives. “I still get goosebumps thinking about that moment,” she recalls. “It’s a huge honor but stress on another level.”

Known for fruit cakes, Cairns had once dismissed the idea of a royal commission due to pressure. The approach in January 2011 changed her perspective.

Meeting at Clarence House

Already supplying Fortnum & Mason and Party Pieces, the Middletons’ business, Cairns met Kate at Clarence House in February 2011. The informal chat over tea included Kishore and possibly James Middleton.

“She was extremely clear about what she wanted; she is very creative,” Cairns notes. “The brief came directly from her and William, emphasizing a family wedding at its core despite global attention.”

Personal Notes and Sugar Flowers

The couple shared detailed ideas through an original list and handwritten Post-It notes with comments, which Cairns keeps private. These specified 17 varieties among 900 sugar flowers, including roses, ivy, lily of the valley, and sweet William.

“It was very special and felt very personal,” she reveals. Post-wedding feedback confirmed the cake exceeded expectations, bringing relief.

Business Expansion and Admiration

Since 2011, Cairns’s company has expanded from 75 to 130 staff, securing deals with Waitrose, Harrods, Selfridges, and Dunnes Stores in Ireland, plus a new online shop for handmade cakes.

Cairns praises the couple’s growth into future monarchs and parents: “They have faced challenges but are exemplary. We feel privileged to have contributed to the start of their journey.”