The masterpiece: Fiona Cairns, stands next to the wedding cake that she and her team made for Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace They celebrated their love for each other today in a lavish Royal Wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey and this is the extraordinary cake that they enjoyed at the reception.
Prince William and his bride Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, cut the first slice of the magnificent eight-tiered wedding cake this afternoon as they celebrated their marriage with friends and family.
The confectionery masterpiece covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers was centre-stage at the Buckingham Palace reception held in the picture gallery.
Hard work: The project has left cake-maker Fiona Cairns exhausted but elated after working for five weeks on the projectThe project has left cake-maker Fiona Cairns exhausted but elated after working for five weeks on it which has tested her skills and those of her team to the limit.
Ms Cairns, 56, whose confections are sold in Harrods, Selfridges and Waitrose, was contacted by St James's Palace in February and asked if she would make William and Kate's wedding cake.
Speaking at Buckingham Palace after she had put the final touches to the cake, she said: ‘The picture gallery has high ceilings and is an imposing room so I wanted the cake to have presence but not to be imposing and I think it worked.
Finishing touches: Staff perfect the special cake, that was covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers‘Catherine did not want it to be seven feet tall, she didn't want it to be towering and thin, and I think we succeeded.
The bride wanted elements from the Joseph Lambeth technique of cake decoration, where intricate piping is used to make three dimensional scroll work, leaves, flowers and other adornments.
Kate also gave Ms Cairns detailed instructions for her to include 17 different blooms and foliage for their meaning or symbolism - known as the ‘language of flowers’.
Fruity! The new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are fans of the baker's fruit cakes, while Paul McCartney orders one for Christmas every year Ms Cairns, who lives in Leicestershire where her factory is based, started her business from her kitchen table and now employs more than 50 people.
She said: ‘I could not believe I finished it in time but we were all really pleased with it. I worked at the palace for two days before the wedding, setting it up with my team.
‘The hardest part was transporting the cakes from Leicestershire to the palace - we were worried they would get damaged - then we had to assemble them.
‘It was tough work but I really enjoyed it. It's been an extraordinary commission.’
Delicious: Rachel Jane Eardley, left, and Diane Pallett prepare the royal wedding cake in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace 
Team work: Fiona Cairns (back) instructs her Royal Wedding cake team during the finishing touches at Buckingham Palace
Newlyweds: Prince William and his bride Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, enjoyed the Royal Wedding cake at their receptionThe Royal Wedding's Lavish Cakes
source: dailymail
