Winston Churchill had his cakes and ate them
A new exhibition from the National Trust shows how Britain's greatest Prime Minister would celebrate his birthday with some massive cakes


It seems that Instagram is awash with lavishness. Weddings, fast cars, fancy holidays, it’s all a race to the bottom (or perhaps to the top?) of excess. One such recent phenomenon that has been plaguing my feed has been over the top birthday cakes — layer upon layer of decadence, agonising displays of excess, all for the purpose of garnering as much engagement as possible.
Naturally, this trend began with Sir Winston Churchill, as most things do. After the Second World War, Churchill’s birthday suddenly became a topic of interest both to the press and the public. Each year, photographers would descend upon his home at Chartwell to see his birthday cakes, each of which was designed to showcase his career, achievements and interesting, using the time-honoured tradition of sponge and icing.
By the late 1950s, public interest had grown so large that the cakes had their own press call at the bakery, before they were sent off to take centre stage on the big day. Maria Floris, the Hungarian pastry chef who created the cakes, also became something of a celebrity, becoming the preferred baker to the Royal Family and High Society.
To celebrate what would have been Churchill’s 150th birthday, the National Trust is displaying newly colourised photographs of his cakes at Chartwell. Titled ‘Winston’s Spectacular Cakes,’ a specially selected series of rare archive photographs will tell the little-known story of Churchill’s birthday showstoppers; one highlight will be an image of his 80th birthday cake, which weighed more than 100lbs, was decorated with 80 candles, and almost didn’t fit through the door at 10, Downing Street.
Another image shows a cake with golden roses to celebrate Churchill and his wife Clementine’s golden wedding anniversary, while another showstopper is dedicated to his love of horses. Try as they might, the Instagrammers will struggle to beat Britain’s greatest Prime Minister when it comes to a birthday bash.
For more information on Winston's Spectacular Cakes at Chartwell, visit the National Trust website
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
My Favourite Painting: Rupert Soames, grandson of Winston Churchill
Rupert Soames chooses one of Winston Churchill's paintings: a joyous portrait of his grandmother by his grandfather.
Sir Winston Churchill's paintings offered to the nation
Although best known as a politician, Sir Winston Churchill was also an artist.
Credit: Country Life
125 years of property sold through Country Life, from Chartwell to Stonehenge (yes, really)
Country Life has been at the heart of the finest property for sale in Britain ever since the first issue,
Make the perfect homemade cake
Baking at home is easier than one might think. Elisabeth Luard shares the joy of making cakes at home and

James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
'Monolithic, multi-layered and quite, quite magnificent. This was love at first bite': Tom Parker Bowles on his lifelong love affair with lasagne
An upwardly mobile spaghetti Bolognese, lasagne al forno, with oozing béchamel and layered meaty magnificence, is a bona fide comfort classic, declares Tom Parker Bowles.
By Tom Parker Bowles
-
Country houses, cream teas and Baywatch: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 24, 2025
Thursday's Quiz of the Day asks exactly how popular Baywatch became.
By Toby Keel
-
Folio, Folio, wherefore art thou Folio? Shakespeare set to be auctioned by Sotheby's
Four Folios will be auctioned in London on May 23, with an estimate of £3.5–£4.5 million for 'the most significant publication in the history of English literature'.
By Lotte Brundle
-
Curators, art historians and other creative minds share their pick of J. M. W Turner's best works, on the 250th anniversary of his birth
Cold moonlight, golden sunset and shimmering waters are only three reasons to love Turner. On the 250th anniversary of his birth, curators, art historians and other creative minds reveal which of his paintings they’d hang on their walls and why.
By Carla Passino
-
Boxy but foxy: How the humble Fiat Panda became motoring's least-likely design classic
Gianni Agnelli's Fiat Panda 4x4 Trekking is currently for sale with RM Sotheby's.
By Simon Mills
-
The coveted Hermès Birkin bag is a safer investment than gold — and several rare editions are being auctioned off by Christie’s
There are only 200,000 Birkin bags in circulation which has helped push prices of second-hand ones up.
By Lotte Brundle
-
Ford Focus ST: So long, and thanks for all the fun
From November, the Ford Focus will be no more. We say goodbye to the ultimate boy racer.
By Matthew MacConnell
-
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style: A whistle-stop history, from the Roman Baths to Hampstead Heath
Emma Hughes dives into swimming's hidden depths at the Design Museum's exhibit in London.
By Emma Hughes
-
Diamonds are everyone's best friend: The enduring appeal of one of Nature's sparkliest treasures
Every diamond has a story to tell and each of us deserves to fall in love with one.
By Jonathan Self
-
From Vinted to Velázquez: The younger generations' appetite for antiques and Old Masters
The younger generations’ appetite for everything vintage bodes well for the future, says Huon Mallalieu, at a time when an extraordinary Old Masters collection is about to go under the hammer.
By Huon Mallalieu