Claire Ptak was catapulted into the spotlight after making Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding cake (Amalfi lemon and elderflower decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream) nearly two years ago. Her sales doubled, but the Californian-born baker was doing pretty well before royalty came knocking. After moving to East London in 2005, she sold home-made cakes at Hackney’s Broadway Market before opening her bakery Violet in 2010. With four cookbooks under her apron, Claire now writes books and for The Guardian and hosts a lifestyle podcast, Violet Sessions. She lives in Hackney with her three-year-old daughter Frances.life.style.etc
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