Royal Couple Stuns Shoppers with Unexpected Borough Market Appearance
The Prince and Princess of Wales delivered a delightful surprise to Londoners today with an unannounced visit to the iconic Borough Market. Prince William and Kate Middleton immersed themselves in the bustling atmosphere of one of the capital's oldest and most celebrated food markets, engaging directly with stallholders and shoppers alike.
Meeting a TikTok Phenomenon
Among their stops was Humble Crumble, a dessert business that has achieved remarkable social media fame. Founded in 2018 by Kim Innes, who began selling fruit crumbles from a simple farmers' market stall, the enterprise has grown exponentially. The concept focuses on a single dessert style—crumble paired with custard and various toppings—which quickly garnered a loyal following through word-of-mouth and digital platforms.
By October 2018, Humble Crumble had expanded to multiple market locations including Borough Market, Old Spitalfields, Camden, and later Covent Garden. The brand now boasts millions of followers on TikTok, where their content has gone viral. During the visit, William and Kate donned aprons and personally served the popular treat to customers, creating memorable moments for all present.
Artisanal Cheese Excellence
The royal couple also visited Trethowan Brothers, an award-winning family cheesemaking business that has been a fixture at Borough Market since 1998. Brothers Todd and Maugan Trethowan have spent over twenty-five years producing small-batch, traditional cheeses at their dairy in North Somerset, with an unwavering focus on artisanal quality.
Their stall brings distinctive cheeses such as Pitchfork Cheddar and Gorwydd Caerphilly to London, significantly contributing to the market's reputation as a premier destination for food enthusiasts. Notably, Gorwydd Caerphilly—a raw milk cheese from Trethowan's Dairy—has received multiple prestigious awards including Super Gold at the 2022–23 World Cheese Awards, Best British Cheese in 2021, and regular gold medals at the British Cheese Awards.
Supporting Social Enterprise
Another meaningful engagement was with Change Please, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to combating homelessness through the power of great-tasting coffee. The organization trains individuals experiencing homelessness to become baristas and provides comprehensive support including living wage jobs, accommodation advice, therapy, bank accounts, and onward employment opportunities.
All profits from Change Please go toward helping people experiencing homelessness across the UK and Ireland. The Prince's Homewards programme funded Change Please last year to run an employability initiative in Northern Ireland, supporting young people through training and paid placements via Homewards' New Employment Opportunities Network.
Thames-Focused Engagements
Today's market visit forms part of a series of engagements focused on the River Thames and its surrounding communities. Kensington Palace stated: "Today's engagements will bring together people and organisations from across the capital whose work continues to support the life of the river and the communities around it."
The surprise appearance not only highlighted the market's vibrant culinary scene but also underscored the royal couple's commitment to supporting local businesses, social enterprises, and community initiatives that make London such a dynamic city.
