Best of British food for Royal wedding reception at Palace

Mark Flanagan’s 21-strong Buckingham Palace kitchen team will cater for 600 at a canapé reception following the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, inset left, on April 29.

Nineteen state rooms in the Palace will open for the reception, which is to be followed by an intimate evening dinner and dance for 300 of the couple’s closest friends and family.

Mr Flanagan, who has worked for famous chefs including Raymond Blanc and Michel and Albert Roux, refused to reveal the menu but said his team would work flat out to ensure the food was a memorable experience.

“We wouldn’t really go into any of the specifics for the big day but we always concentrate on showing off the best of British produce, so your bets are safe on that,” he added.

Jennifer Scott, assistant curator of paintings at the Royal Collection, said the state rooms at the Palace “dripped with opulence” and were a gift for history of art graduates like William and Kate.

The wedding cake – a multi-tiered fruit confection created by Fiona Cairns – is expected to be on display in the Palace’s picture gallery surrounded by priceless paintings by artists including Rembrandt and Rubens.

Royal Mail is to issue a new set of stamps featuring William and Kate’s official engagement portraits taken by celebrity photographer Mario Testino.

They have been approved by the Queen and will be released on her birthday, April 21.