NEED TO KNOW

  • Dame Mary Berry gave a new interview to Saga, where she revealed that Kate Middleton and Prince William are both competitive
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales have been known to face off, even on royal engagements
  • Berry also said she was “totally overcome” by a tribute message from Prince William during her 90th birthday celebration earlier this year

Kate Middleton and Prince William are always going for the win. 

T.V. chef and baking expert Dame Mary Berry recently spoke to Saga, where she talked about the royal couple as she reflected on being called a “true national treasure” by Prince William when he helped celebrate her 90th birthday earlier this year.

“I had to bite my lip, because you feel, ‘Oh, goodness gracious me!’ ” she told the outlet about the special tribute. “I was totally overcome. I thought, ‘I must hold myself together.’ I mean, to see Prince William on the screen saying that I’d taught him all he knew about cooking… well!”

Berry, who was made a Dame Commander for her career in cooking and writing in 2021, added that both the Prince and Princess of Wales share a surprising trait: “I’ve done quite a few things with him and, gosh, he’s competitive. So is Catherine.”

Mary Berry and Prince William on June 10, 2019.

Chris Jackson/Getty 

Prince William and Princess Kate, both 43, never shy away from the opportunity to go head-to-head, even on royal engagements. They have faced off in everything from spin biking and charity sailing races to cocktail mixing and rolling dough balls.

During a 2023 appearance on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast — hosted by Mike Tindall, who is married to William’s cousin Zara — they poked fun at Kate’s personality when it comes to contests.

“I’m not going to say you’re uber competitive,” Mike said sarcastically.

Princess Kate replied coyly, “I’m not competitive at all.”

“I’ve seen her play beer pong!” Mike said.

Kate Middleton and Prince William race on spin bikes in 2023.
Jacob King – WPA Pool/Getty Images

In fact, Kate’s younger brother James Middleton once revealed that William would make up excuses to get out of game nights with their competitive family, saying that his brother-in-law would see if James’ dog Ella needed a walk as soon as the cards came out.

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Kate Middleton and Mary Berry in 2019.
Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Prince William and Princess Kate appeared alongside Berry in a Christmas special episode of The Great British Bake Off in 2019 and shared how Berry’s cooking impacted their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“One of Louis’ first words was ‘Mary’ because right at his height are all my cooking books in the kitchen bookshelf,” said Kate. “Your face is all over your cooking books, and he would say, ‘That’s Mary Berry.’ “