BAKING queen Mary Berry is back on our screens tonight whipping up some festive treats alongside royals Prince William and Kate Middleton on the BBC’s seasonal special A Berry Royal Christmas.
The 84-year-old Bake Off star opens up about the tragic death of her son William in this evening’s show.
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How did Mary Berry’s son William die?
Mary’s son William tragically died in a car accident while home from University in 1989 aged just 19.
She was informed of her son’s death when a policeman rang the doorbell while she was waiting for him and his sister Annabel to return home for lunch.
The family spent the Friday evening together over a lamb meal Mary had made for William’s return from Bristol Polytechnic where he was studying business studies.
On the Saturday morning, he asked to borrow the car, but just hours later he died in a fatal accident.
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What has Mary Berry said about William?
During The Mary Berry Story, a BBC documentary about her life, the national treasure revealed her personal heartache over losing her beloved son William at such a young age.
She recalled the weekend she lost him: “It was a glorious January day and it was sort of 1 o’clock and he wasn’t home.
“The doorbell rang and there was a policeman there, and immediately then I knew why.
“And he said, ‘There’s been an accident and I’m sorry to say your son is dead”.
Mary and her husband Paul rushed to the hospital to see their son, she said: “He just looked so beautiful and so lovely, his little cold face and it was nice to say farewell.”
She told the Daily Mail: “William is still a huge part of our lives. I have his photo in the kitchen where I can look at it all the time.
“When I think of William, it’s with joy and happiness. I miss him immeasurably, but I know how fortunate I was to have him even for that short time. I still have two other children. How lucky am I?”
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Does Mary Berry have any other children?
Mary married Paul Hunnings in 1966.
They had three children together – Thomas born in 1968, William in 1969 and Annabel in 1972.
Annabel Hunnings is a professionally trained cook and went into business with her mother Mary in the 90s making salad dressings, chutneys and sauces. The former Great British Bake Off judge sold off the company in 2014 for £2.5million.
First-born son Thomas Hunnings is a tree surgeon based in Oxfordshire.
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Does Mary Berry have any grandchildren?
The much loved cookery writer and television presenter has five grandchildren.
A Berry Royal Christmas will air tonight, December 16, at 8.30pm on BBC One.
The hour-long show sees Mary join The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on charity visits, including the UK’s largest homeless centre, The Passage, in London.
