A Cake for Princess Elizabeth

A young Princess Elizabeth of York. Image from Flickr.

For Princess Elizabeth of York's eighth birthday, her doting grandfather, King George V, commissioned his chef to prepare for his favorite granddaughter a "pink and white iced birthday cake, decorated with eight candles" for her afternoon party.

The King and Queen Mary and the princess' parents, the duke and duchess of York, and other members of the Royal Family were at the family affair at Windsor Castle. Telegrams and birthday greetings from all over the British Empire "poured in during the morning." The princess' uncle, the Duke of Kent, sent a radiogram telling his niece that he was bringing her a present from South Africa. Gifts were also sent to the princess and there was so much that the dining table was already filled. Many of these gifts were books. At a young age, Princess Elizabeth was already a great reader of travel and adventure stories.