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Kate Middleton has revealed a glimpse into her ‘unfussy and unpretentious’ kitchen.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, was snapped whipping up some cupcakes with Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, in a Jubilee video shared on Instagram yesterday.
Captions on the images, which were shared on Instagram yesterday, revealed the family was making the treats for a street party in Cardiff, where Kate, alongside her husband Prince William, and their two oldest children, made a flying visit over the weekend as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
The video could have been filmed at either Kensington Palace, the Duke and Duchess’s London home, or at Anmer Hall, the ten-bedroom country bolthole on the Queen’s Sandringham estate, in Norfolk, where William and Kate spend much of their time with their children.
Kate Middleton has revealed a glimpse into her ‘unfussy and unpretentious’ kitchen. The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, was snapped whipping up some cupcakes with Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, in a Jubilee video shared on Instagram yesterday
The kitchen snaps revealed some of the thoughtful utensils and tools that stock the Cambridges kitchen, including a cream Kitchen Aid mixer (left) and traditional stoneware pudding basin (right)
According to interior design expert Benji Lewis, images of the Cambridge kitchen reveal a lot about the family, showing that they are keen cooks and homemakers
As well as showing the family having fun, the pictures also revealed some of the high end fittings and utensils the royal has decked the kitchen out with, like the £4,200 range cooker. Like many yummy mummies, Kate also invested in a £499 KitchenAid standing mixer.
While it might be home to two future kings, chez Cambridge is anything but pretentious. William and Kate have made sure to add ‘homey’ touches and don’t want people to ‘stand on ceremony’, noted interior designer Benji Lewis.
He told FEMAIL: ‘Whilst the overall feel of the kitchen is homely, it’s unfussy and unpretentious.
‘It’s certainly not a kitchen in which one would feel required to stand on ceremony, there’s nothing flashy about it, on the contrary it’s very normal with its simple knobs (some unpainted even), some open shelving and a lick of pale blue paint against soft grey or tan walls.’
Here, a closer look at their cosy kitchen…
1. Blue hydrangeas
Displayed in a vase on the kitchen counter behind Princess Charlotte are some beautiful blue hydrangeas. The flowers bring a splash of colour to the otherwise neutral space
Displayed in a vase on the kitchen counter behind Princess Charlotte are some beautiful blue hydrangeas. The flowers bring a splash of colour to the otherwise neutral space.
The Duchess of Cambridge is understood to do ‘all the gardening’ at the family home, so it is possible these beautiful spring blooms are the result of her hard work.
The children, who are all a little too small to reach the counter tops, have been thoughtfully provided with stools
Speaking last year, William said his wife was buying him Daily Mail columnist Monty Don’s book on gardening so that he could brush up on his technique and help out.
‘I really like gardening but I have no idea what I’m doing,’ he said at the time.
Kate put her own garden on public show when she entered the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
2. Open shelves devoid of clutter
A bold choice in any family home, where clutter is sure to build up quickly, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided to put in open shelving for storage in the kitchen.
The open wood shelves, situated above the range cooker, will be the envy of every busy parents.
Having open, clear, shelving space makes the Cambridge home seem peaceful and organised.
There are a small number of items on display, although it is difficult to make them out from the image.
3. Stools for the children
Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and four-year-old Prince Louis were snapped standing on kitchen stools that brought them up to the height of the counter.
The thoughtful touch suggests the Cambridge children are regulars in the kitchen – and are always ready to join in.
The Duchess of Cambridge is a dab hand at baking and has had plenty of experience making her children’s birthday cakes.
‘I love making the cake. It’s become a bit of a tradition that I stay up ’til midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing and I make far too much. But I love it,’ she once told Dame Merry Berry.
4. Icing nozzle
‘It looks as if cooking is quite the pastime, what with the assorted mixers and the range cooker that looks like it’s an appropriate size to afford versatility when it comes to culinary activity,’ Benji noted.
Among the bits and pieces on show is the icing nozzle Kate has in her hand.
Dame Mary Berry once praised the Duchess’ icing skills, saying: ‘She made a beautiful roulade and William had a go too and she was icing cakes and was an absolute natural, and I like the idea that she’ll seek to do things well.’
A bold choice in any family home, where clutter is sure to build up quickly, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided to put in open shelving for storage in the kitchen (left). Right, the Duchess of Cambridge’s icing nozzle
5. £499 KitchenAid
Like many other baking aficionados, Kate was unable to resist the lure of one of KitchenAid’s classic mixers, opting for one in a neutral cream colour
6. Pudding basin
Charlotte is seen cracking an egg into a stoneware pudding basin. Similar designs are available for £8 from Mason Cash.
Proving himself a confident young chef, Prince Louis is seen using a KitchenAid in the background of one of the shots.
The mixer, favoured by celebrities and Great British Bake Off contestants, comes in a range of colours. The duchess has opted for one in a neutral, cream colour, to match her calming kitchen.
KitchenAid mixers are durable, beautiful, reliable and have tons of uses for anybody that is serious about baking.
It includes everything from a wire whisk, and a dough hook to a flex edge beater for heavy mixes like batter and a flat beater for frosting. You’ll soon wonder how you baked without one. They aren’t just for bakers, however, as the dough hook is ideal for whipping up pizza dough and pasta.
7. Cream wall colour
One of the most noticeable things about the Cambridge kitchen, is the relaxed, calming feel.
This is partly achieved thanks to the relaxed cream wall colour Kate has chosen to decorate the walls. As interior design expert Benji noted, this relaxed colour scheme plays into the homely, and unfussy quality of the room.
He added on the lighting above the range: ‘The wash of concealed light over the range cooker shows that they’ve given practical thought to things, enabling whoever’s the cook to keep an eye on what it is that’s cooking.
‘Accent lighting like this is also an excellent way of providing an ambient glow that suggest a welcoming home, so homemakers they clearly are.’
Kate’s kitchen looked particularly patriotic in the video, with a string of Union Jack bunting hanging on the walls
8. Patriotic bunting
Any Platinum Jubilee party was not complete without Union Jack bunting, and Kate has brought the party spirit into her own kitchen, hanging a string of the flags across the top of the range.
With her family owning a party accessories company, the duchess is well placed to get good advice on where to buy the best celebratory decor.
The theme continues with a Union flag tucked into the flower vase alongside the hydrangeas.
9. Falcon Deluxe 1092 Dual Fuel range
The sizeable range in the kitchen suggests the family are serious about their cooking.
Believed to be a Falcon Deluxe 1092 Dual Fuel, which retails for in excess of £4,000, it boasts six gas hobs, and electric oven space.
It as described as being suitable for people looking for a ‘professional standard’ of cooking, suggesting it would also be suitable for when William and Kate are cooked for by a chef.
The brand says of the model: ‘For serious cooks looking for a straightforward, solid, simple and reliable range cooker there is nothing quite like a Falcon, and this 1092 Deluxe model has become something of a classic.
‘Built to appeal to those aspiring to a more professional standard a Falcon range… it does away with the more domestic features like a timer/programmer or windowed doors, giving a more robust and focused user experience.’
Discussing the range, Benji noted: ‘Interestingly there’s no added detail behind the cooker like a tiled backsplash – just a simple, practical upstand to protect the wall from oily backsplashes.’
The Cambridge’s range, which is thought to be a Falcon Deluxe 1092 Dual Fuel, boasts plenty of space for cooking lavish meals, and serving large groups
11. Wooden counter top
The wooden counter top is in keeping with the traditional feel of the decor, and looks like it may be an island – the central point of any sociable kitchen.
According to Benji: ‘Clearly having the opportunity to socialise whilst cooking is important; if what we see is correct, with an island in front of the range cooker, the cook can keep an eye on the stove whilst also interacting with guests perching at the island.’
The wood could provide another benefit, Benji said: ‘The acoustics likely work well with seemingly an absence of hard surfaces; the main worktop in timber and the cabinetry likewise, soft textures like these will help reduce clattery sound.’
Traditional touches: Shaker style doors can be seen on the wall cabinets between Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte
12. Shaker style cupboards and drawers
Yet another carefully chosen, yet classic touch, are the Shaker style cupboards and drawers throughout the kitchen.
The traditional fittings are in keeping with the country home decor, making the home feel relaxed, and also congruous with its Norfolk countryside location.
There are a mixture of colour and textures in the handles, suggesting an imperfect approach to decorating that makes the entire space more approachable.
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