Emma Jayne to create life-size Prince and Princess of Wales cake feature

Rainbow Dust ambassador Emma Jayne is preparing a new life-size sugar-art installation for Cake International 2026. The feature will depict The Prince and Princess of Wales in Coronation gowns, set against a Buckingham Palace balcony scene. It will be presented as a feature display at the Birmingham show and will continue the royal theme that has shaped some of Emma's most memorable recent work.

The finished sculpture will be revealed at the NEC Birmingham, where visitors can see it in Halls 9 and 10 from 6-8 November 2026. 

A new royal challenge for Emma Jayne

Emma is known internationally for lifelike sculpted figures, expressive characters and large-scale edible showpieces. Her latest commission follows previous Cake International creations of King Charles and Queen Elizabeth I. This time, the brief introduces two figures, ceremonial clothing and an architectural setting, giving the artist a fresh combination of scale, character and intricate surface detail to interpret in sugar.

"I've continued with the royal theme this year after absolutely loving the challenge of creating King Charles and Queen Elizabeth I for Cake International. This year's feature will be Prince William and Princess Kate in their Coronation gowns, a sculpting project full of elegance and detail, set on Buckingham palace balcony"

The finished work will remain under wraps until the exhibition opens on 6th November. 

From sculpture to sugar art

A life-size sugar-art installation requires careful planning across proportion, structure, surface treatment and visual storytelling. The figures' formal clothing provides opportunities for sculpted folds, layered decoration and fine painted elements, while the balcony setting gives the work a recognisable stage. 

Large-scale work can draw on a wide range of decorating materials. Rainbow Dust's food colouring collection covers gels, powders, liquids, paints and edible pens, while the sugar and modelling paste range includes materials developed for covering, modelling and detailed sugar work. Emma will be using Squire’s Kitchen sugarpaste, Cocoform for the structure of the installation and Rainbow Dust ProGel colours and Shimmers Dusts for all the detail.

The project also brings together the two brands now available through Rainbow Dust. The Squires Kitchen collection includes modelling materials, specialist sugars and other decorating essentials, complementing Rainbow Dust's collection of colours and decorations. You can learn more about Rainbow Dust and Squire Kitchen and how the brands are brought together in Preston.

Celebrating creative cake artists

Emma is part of the Rainbow Dust ambassador team, a group of professional bakers, pastry chefs and sugar artists who share specialist skills and creative inspiration with the decorating community. Her work is particularly recognised for character-led sculpture and ambitious display pieces that turn cake decorating into visual storytelling.

The new commission is designed as an exhibition feature rather than a conventional celebration cake. Visitors will be able to experience it alongside Cake International's competition pieces, demonstrations, workshops and installations from artists around the world.

What visitors can expect

Cake International brings together competition entries, live demonstrations, workshops and large-scale installations from cake artists around the world. Feature displays give visitors a chance to study techniques, textures and finishes at a scale that is difficult to capture in photographs. Emma's two-figure composition will add a narrative centrepiece to that wider programme and offer a close look at how detailed sugar work can be used in an exhibition setting.

The installation is an independent creative feature for Cake International and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Royal Household.

See the finished feature at Cake International

Cake International 2026 takes place at the NEC Birmingham across three days in November. Emma's finished feature will be displayed in Halls 9 and 10, giving visitors the chance to see the figures, ceremonial costumes and balcony scene together for the first time.

Read more on the official Cake International feature page, explore the Rainbow Dust ambassador team, or browse the wider Rainbow Dust and Squires Kitchen ranges for more cake-decorating inspiration.