Kate Middleton shares cooking secrets as she bakes with Mary Berry

When the Queen of Puds met the heir to the throne, it was always going to be the perfect recipe.

Mary Berry hit on the right blend when she mixed Prince William with wife Kate to cook up a feast for charity volunteers and staff.

And by adding a sprinkle of ex-Great British Bake Off champ Nadiya Hussain, 34, that was the icing on the cake.

Guests of honour Wills and Kate, both 37, got stuck into the party prep with the 84-year-old former Bake Off judge.

Their efforts for charity staff working over the festive period can be seen on BBC One’s A Berry Royal Christmas.

Prince William with Mary Berry and Kate Middleton (BBC)

Kate Middleton shows off her skills to Mary Berry (BBC)

The royal couple should have proved a big help, as they are said to love baking.

They are also huge Bake Off fans, Mary’s former co-host Paul Hollywood once let slip. Before marrying, Kate was said to be a regular at the Love Bakery in Chelsea, West London.

And her brother James ran a cake kit company after leaving university.

Mary and Kate have been pals since meeting six years ago at an event for the charity Child Bereavement UK.

As well as cooking up a storm, the royals took Mary to the UK’s first alcohol-free bar, The Brink, in Liverpool, and to The Passage, London’s largest resource centre for the homeless.

Prince William lends his support in A Berry Royal Christmas (BBC)

William said: “I think I’ve grown up in a household which has been very much a case of, ‘well, we’re very lucky – you must give back’.

“My grandmother becoming Queen at a very young age, in the days when it was a man’s world, it was very difficult for her to make a difference. And she’s done it.

“I get a lot out of helping people. I find you hear and you understand and you learn so much more by giving a bit of your time, a bit of your day, to just be around.”

Kate says William used to try and impress her with breakfast

Kate, Prince William, Nadiya Hussain and Mary Berry cook up a storm (BBC)

Mary looked forward to joining the royals on their charity engagements. She said: “It will be truly special to see the causes so close to their hearts, as well as to hear all about the amazing support these charities provide.”

Last night, Beeb bosses remained tight-lipped over the royal menu.

Surely they had to have made a Victoria sponge.

• A Berry Royal Christmas, December 16, 8.30pm, BBC One.