You could be baking for the Queen of England's platinum jubilee!

ON your marks... get set...bake! Buckingham Palace has just launched a competition reserved exclusively for amateur pastry chefs. The winner will see their dessert served on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, which will be celebrated in June.


Elegant, easy to reproduce, without too many competing flavors and textures... These are some of Buckingham Palace head chef Mark Flanagan's tips for success in the pastry competition launched by the British crown. Relayed via social networks, this competition is only open to amateurs. Anyone with professional training in the catering industry can not participate.


If you have mad skills with a whisk and are adept with a spatula, all you need to do is send your entry via the website of luxury department store Fortnum & Mason. Keep in mind that for your creation to be entered in the competition, you need to be a UK resident and over the age of 8.


If you want to be in with a chance of the Queen tasting your pudding, the recipe must include the exact portions of each ingredient. It must be able to easily be reproduced by home bakers. It is also key to tell the story behind the recipe. If the pudding was inspired by something from Queen Elizabeth II's life, that could be an advantage. A pie, a cake, a layer cake, a crumble...the site has a list of what qualifies as a pudding and there's a large range of desserts possible as long as a photograph is included with the application. Moreover, participants can also publicize their creation via social networks.


As far as the prize is concerned, it consists of the privilege of having one's dessert served during the celebrations of the Queen of England's platinum jubilee. The festivities will take place June 2-5. Five finalists will be chosen by a jury of professionals, including British television personalities known for their participation in culinary shows. The finalists will be announced the week of March 14.