Kate Middleton forced to apologise after pancake attempt goes wrong on royal visit
It's pancake day!Princess Kate Middleton was once forced to apologise after she attempted to flip a pancake on a royal visit.
February 17 marks Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. To coincide with the occasion, we’re looking back at one of the Princess of Wales’ royal engagements where she showcased her pancake flipping skills (well, attempted to!).
In February 2023, the Princess of Wales visited a nursing home in Slough. It was here that she was given the opportunity to make pancakes.
Kate Middleton attempts to flip pancake on royal visit
Shrove Tuesday is the the final day before the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period in the lead-up to Easter. It provides a last opportunity to indulge in sweet treats before the Lenten period begins.
During her 2023 visit, Princess Catherine first struggled to scrape the pancake batter from the frying pan as the people around her chuckled.
All the ones that were made earlier are much nicer than this one. I am sorry!
As a chef watched on, Kate reportedly said: “So this is where I go wrong, I obviously try and turn them too quickly.”
Seemingly conscious of the crowd watching on, she then joked: “I wish there was, like, music going on.”
Laughing, she quipped: “Maybe the children won’t want to do pancakes… ‘Mummy we’ve seen you do it – no way.'”
Kate then flipped the pancake in the pan, as the audience applauded.
Pointing to the pancake, she joked: “Definitely don’t eat that one.”
Turning to the chef, Princess Kate reportedly added: “All the ones that were made earlier are much nicer than this one. I am sorry! I haven’t done you justice. Would you like to show them how to do it properly?”
Either way, it seems Princess Kate won over the crowd with her antics.
Do the royals celebrate Pancake Day?
Former royal chef Darren McGrady has revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth II once put him through a pancake challenge!
He told Heart Bingo Online: “Pancake Day was one occasion the Royal Household really did observe. Queen Elizabeth was very religious, and Pancake Day traditionally used ingredients like eggs, milk and butter before the start of Lent.
“I had six pans going on the stove at once, working like a factory line. By the time I’d poured and swirled the batter in the sixth pan, the first one was ready to turn. I used a spatula because it was quicker.
“On one Pancake Day, I remember looking up and seeing Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret standing there watching me cook. I was trying to focus on the pancakes while completely nervous.”
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He added: “The queen watched for a moment and then said, ‘Isn’t that cheating?’ because I wasn’t tossing them. She told me I should be flipping them properly. So I started tossing each pancake, one by one. I was sweating by the last pan, but every single one landed perfectly.
“She smiled, said ‘Bravo,’ and they both laughed before walking away. That felt like passing a very important test!”
Do you celebrate Pancake Day? Tell us on our Facebook page @RoyalInsider.
