Queen’s cake-maker laid to rest with piping bag so he can ‘teach the angels his skills’

The master baker behind royal cakes made for Elizabeth II’s wedding and the Golden Jubilee has been laid to rest clutching a piping bag.

Eddie Spence, who was awarded an MBE for services to sugar craft in 2000, died at his home in Bournemouth, Dorset.

The 91-year-old once spent a whole day beating eggs for Elizabeth II’s wedding cake and went on to create elaborate bakes for royal events including Charles and Diana’s wedding and the Golden Jubilee.

His wife, Tracy Spence, said: “I always said he had royal icing in his veins and was born with a piping tube in his hand. I have placed a piping bag in his hand at the chapel of rest so he is ready to teach the angels his skills.”

Mr Spence enjoyed a 71-year career, producing an elaborate, 56lb gold state coach design for the late Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, her Diamond Jubilee in 2013 and her golden wedding anniversary in 1997.

His last royal commission was for the late Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary in 2017, for which he made intricate sugar flowers to replicate the myrtle in her wedding bouquet.

Mr Spence once said the cake he designed for Princess Margaret’s wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 was his favourite.

Born on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Mr Spence started baking at Mackie’s confectioners bakery at the age of 14.

After serving his apprenticeship, which lasted more than six years, he was promoted and by the age of 22 he was teaching baking at some of the most prestigious colleges in the country.

He continued to work at Mackie’s and at one point was making 50 wedding cakes a week.

Mr Spence said in an interview: “I started there at 14 because my parents couldn’t afford to keep me in school and straight away I loved it.

“Most people started their apprenticeships at 16 but I got a two-year head start which put me at an advantage.

“The apprentices worked downstairs in those days and not long after I started I went upstairs to deliver some ingredients and the man in charge asked what I was doing.

“It turned out they were working on a cake for the Queen’s wedding and I was given the job of hand-beating eggs for the job.

“It took all day but it was definitely worth it.”

It was his first experience of making cakes for the Royal family but he went on to create elaborate bakes for most senior royals, including Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret.

Of the latter, he said: “I remember receiving a letter telling me she wanted it to be traditional, so that’s what we did. The detail on that cake was amazing and it took a lot of hard work.”

His proudest moment, however, was receiving an MBE from the late Queen in 2000.

“She was absolutely fabulous,” he once said. “At the end of getting my medal and to thank her I said ‘thanks pet’.

“I always call everybody pet and of course right away she laughed and she wrote it down on her book. That was the biggest and most enjoyable moment.”