Mary Berry Had the Sweetest Reaction to Being Named a Dame Commander By Prince Charles

Fans of British cooking shows have something new to raise a cup of tea to, as Mary Berry, the iconic British television cook and former Great British Baking Show judge, was honored yesterday by being appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). The honor, which was awarded to her at Windsor Castle by Prince Charles, was given to mark her services to broadcasting, the culinary arts, and her charity work.

Following the ceremony, Clarence House shared a video including Berry's reaction to her new honor. "I'm very thrilled—and isn't it beautiful!" she says in the video. "Absolutely lovely. I think when I go home, I shall pin it and look at it." She added, "I can't tell you how exciting it was. I kept thinking, I wish I could get home and ring my parents, but they're up there," she said, indicating the sky, "and they know."

Yet, despite her reputation for sumptuous feasts, her plans for her own celebration sounded a bit more subdued according to what she told The Evening Standard. "We're going home for a sandwich, and the children are coming tonight," she said.

Berry, who has dedicated more than 50 years to broadcasting and the culinary arts, is a household name in the UK—and, for that matter, in the royal family. In 2019, she joined Prince William and Kate Middleton for a Christmas special centered on throwing a party for volunteers who help those in need. At the time, Kate revealed, "One of Louis's first words was 'Mary', because right at his height are all my cooking books in the kitchen bookshelf." She added, "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 recognize you if he saw you today."

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