A BAKER from Poole who has donated the official cake for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has spoken about the immense feeling of pride.  

Mark Bennett, owner of Patisserie Mark Bennett in Sandbanks Road, approached Buckingham Palace with a proposal to design and bake the cake which will celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The baker, who previously baked the wedding cake for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2012, said he feels “so proud and privileged” to have been asked to bake once again for royalty. 

He told the Daily Echo: “I spoke with the household and they said ‘yes’ straight away. 

“It was absolutely amazing and I couldn't believe it.  

Bournemouth Echo: Mark starting the assembly of the cakeMark starting the assembly of the cake

“I’m a big royalist so it has been an honour to bake the cake. 

“I worked with the master of the household and did several Teams calls back and forth. 

“I came up with a design and sent it off to them. They would then come back to me with ideas. We never met face to face.” 

Read more: All you need to know about the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Dorset

The final cake, which has royal approval, is decorated with crests, corgis, horses, the Commonwealth flag, Union Jack, Westminster Abbey, flowers and even racing pigeons – the Queen has around 200 pigeons in her loft at her Sandringham Estate and is a patron of several UK pigeon-racing associations. 

Bournemouth Echo: The royal crown which is on top of the cakeThe royal crown which is on top of the cake

Mark added: “They wanted something very traditional. They wanted lots of things that depicted Her Majesty’s life over 70 years. 

“But they also made it clear that it was my work, albeit with some influence from them. They added their suggestions, but the final decision was left with me.” 

The rich royal fruitcake took three months to design and bake and is made with butter, sugar, flour, eggs and has “a lot of rum in it.” 

Bournemouth Echo: Mark with the finished cake - fit for royaltyMark with the finished cake - fit for royalty

Mark, who has been baking for 40 years and owned his own bakery for the last 10, said it has been a “nerve-wracking” process but was relieved to have delivered it to Buckingham Palace yesterday “with no dramas.” 

Mark added he couldn’t have got this far without the support of his wife Emma and son Jamie.