Celebrate the Queen's official birthday with her favorite cake, courtesy 'The Royal Chef': We met the chef who served QE II

Recipe for Queen Elizabeth's birthday cake in "Eating Royally" alongside QE II commemorative cup

June 12th marks the "official birthday" of Queen Elizabeth and The Royal Chef, our one-degree connection to England's longest reigning monarch, is sharing her favorite cake on his YouTube channel (you can access it on  The Royal Chef website).

We met The Royal Chef, aka Darren McGrady, back in 2013 when he came to Michigan (his first time!) for a food festival in Traverse City where he was invited to be a guest speaker. I interviewed him a week before his arrival when I was writing for the on-line newspaper, The Examiner. I also met him in person at the festival and found him a captivating presenter.

Meeting up with The Royal Chef in Traverse City

(Although the article, like The Examiner, is no longer on-line, I did post a blog about the visit in September, 2013, "Meeting the Royal Chef in northern Michigan")

McGrady told us the Queen loves chocolate, so her birthday treat is chocolate times three: chocolate sponge cake,  chocolate ganache filling and topped with chocolate icing.

Captivating speaker, McGrady tells tales of cooking at the palace

And what could be better than one birthday celebration with chocolate cake? How about two: the true date of the royal's birth and, then, for more, fun, one celebrated by all of England on June 12th.

The Queen's "real" birthday is April 21st (the Queen and I have sooooo much in common: April birthdays, love of chocolate).

But why the extra birthday for the monarch? The tradition started in 1748 with King George II (as noted in today's Metro, Why the Queen has two birthdays). He envisioned a birthday celebration with crowds gathered and parades marching by. Unfortunately, this King George's birthday was in November and not an optimum time for outdoor festivities in England. So he declared June 12th as the "official" birthday of the royal ruler and the "pomp and circumstance" he desired evolved into the "Trooping of the Colors."

Inside the commemorative mug: QE II, longest reign in England

Today, the Queen celebrates her 95th birthday and, as of 2015, holds the record for the longest reigning monarch of England. (When we were across the pond in 2015, my daughter, Rachel, bought a commemorative mug to note the event). That means not only sixty-nine years of being Queen, but one hundred thirty-eight birthday celebrations. That's a lot of chocolate cake!

McGrady tells us, though, that the Queen is a master of discipline, and only takes a small slice, for her birthday and day or two after and then the rest is brought to the staff dining room. 

"Eating Royally" autographed by the Royal Chef and fellow tea enthusiast!

When I have a bit more time, I'm going to bake myself  the Royal Birthday cake. I have McGrady's cookbook, "Eating Royalty" that he autographed for me in 2013 and the recipe is on page 74. I may prepare it next April, and perhaps again, next June, and truly celebrate my birthday in the royal way.