Kate and William gave their children such thoughtful christening gifts
Ready to say 'aww'? Prince William and Kate Middleton kept up a time-honoured tradition for their three children, by saving the top tiers of their decadent eight-tiered wedding cake in order for it to be later served at not one, but three very special events: at Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis' respective christenings.
The custom of newlyweds freezing part of their wedding cake, to later serve at their first child's christening, has long been thought of as signifying good luck and welcoming prosperity into the family. However, given that the time between marriage and welcoming a child has increased, many couples now choose to eat the preserved portion of wedding cake on their first anniversary instead.
Although the Cambridge children themselves would have been too young to appreciate the gesture, we bet William and Kate's foresight would have been viewed as a seriously special touch by guests in attendance – especially given that by the time Louis' christening rolled around in 2018, the cake was seven years old! Which is pretty a remarkable feat, wouldn't you say? And quite the gift.
For anybody fretting over the, err, state of said wedding-turned-christening cake – fear not, as the preserved fruit sponge is believed to have been cooked using alcohol, helping to keep it in good shape (and we've no doubt that the royal kitchen staff kept it stored appropriately in their freezers too).
Guests who attended the christening of the Duke and Duchess's firstborn, Prince George, were the first to be treated to the saved cake back in 2013, with Princess Charlotte's christening following in 2015. It's reported that following the latter, Kate and William hosted a tea party at Sandringham House for members of the royal family and Charlotte's godparents (Sophie Carter, James Meade, Adam Middleton, Laura Fellowes and Thomas van Straubenzee). Complete with the special cake, of course!
Ahead of Louis' christening ceremony, the royal family confirmed the use of the cake again too. "One of the three top tiers of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's eight-tier wedding cake will be used for the Christening cake," they wrote on Twitter, before later sharing a statement from Buckingham Palace with further details.
One of the three top tiers of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's eight-tier wedding cake will be used for the Christening cake. pic.twitter.com/SVaspn3Rxi
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 9, 2018
"The cake was decorated with cream and white icing using the Joseph Lambeth technique," it read. "There were up to 900 individually iced flowers and leaves of 17 different varieties decorated on the cake. A garland design around the middle of the cake matched the architectural garlands decorated around the top of the Picture Gallery in Buckingham Palace, the room in which the cake was displayed during the wedding."
Discussing the next-level creation during a new ITV documentary all about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, baker Fiona Cairns revealed that a door even had to be taken off its hinges at Buckingham Palace so that the trolley carrying it could pass through safely!
We wonder if there's any cake left... just in case a fourth Cambridge child ever makes an appearance?
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