Royal Couple's Unexpected Bakery Shift Delights London Market
Prince William and Kate Middleton made a memorable appearance at London's bustling Borough Market, where they not only toured the vibrant food stalls but also rolled up their sleeves to work a "trial shift" at the popular dessert kiosk, Humble Crumble. The royal visit brought joy to shoppers and vendors alike, with the couple sampling local wares and engaging warmly with the community.
Founder's Surreal Encounter with the Royals
Humble Crumble founder Kim Innes, 31, described meeting the Prince and Princess as the "most surreal experience" of her life. Kim, who started the business with £3,000 in savings after being made redundant, now oversees a thriving enterprise that employs around 100 people. In the past year, Humble Crumble generated impressive sales of £6.6 million and a pre-tax profit of £1.1 million.
During their visit, Kim cheekily asked Prince William if he might "put in a good word" to help her secure a coveted Royal Warrant of Appointment. This prestigious designation is only granted to companies that have regularly supplied goods or services to the British Royal Household for at least five years.
Kate Middleton's Natural Talent Shines
Prince William surprised Kim by mentioning he had seen her on MasterChef the previous evening, leaving her stunned. After the royal couple departed, Kim reflected on their kindness, noting they asked detailed questions about her business journey, including how she started, why she chose crumble, and the challenges of running a food market enterprise.
Kim's partner, Gabriel Unger, who was the first to place an order from William and Kate, joked that they would "pass their trial shift." He praised their efforts, saying, "It's not every day that you get served a crumble that’s half made by the king to be and half made by the queen to be." He added that both were very personable and did a fantastic job.
Kim highlighted Kate Middleton's particular skill, noting her cream-piping abilities were "fantastic" and that she could teach the team, calling her a natural. This aligns with reports that Kate seemed to have a real knack for preparing Humble Crumble's Instagram-famous desserts during the visit.
Humble Crumble's Remarkable Growth Story
Founded in 2019, Humble Crumble faced challenges during the Covid lockdown when Kim briefly switched to delivering flour and eggs from suppliers to neighbours. However, its profile skyrocketed in 2020 after Kim's Instagram-friendly pumpkin crumble was featured in Time Out magazine.
Sales surged from a few crumbles a day to 100, and today the business sells thousands daily. Kim plans to open a sixth location near Selfridges in central London later this year and is in talks to launch a range of branded pre-packaged crumble toppings.
Royal Visit Extends to Bermondsey Beer Mile
After their bakery shift, the Prince and Princess stopped for selfies and shook hands with attendees before heading to the nearby Bermondsey Beer Mile. This area is renowned for over 20 craft breweries, taprooms, and bottle shops nestled in the heart of Southwark.
At the Southwark Brewing Company, founded in 2014 by Peter Jackson from a home-brew kit into a full brewery, William and Kate were given the chance to pour pints and climb ladders to stir ingredients into one of the brewhouse kettles. This continued their hands-on approach, showcasing their engagement with local businesses and communities.
