Mary Berry has emotionally opened up about the tragic loss of her son William 36 years ago in a new interview with British Vogue. 

The chef’s son tragically died in a car accident while visiting home from Bristol University in 1989, aged 19.

Thirty six years later, Mary, 89, has opened up on the heartbreaking tragedy, sharing she cannot believe how much time has pᴀssed.

Speaking to the publication ahead of her milestone 90th birthday, Mary said: ‘It’s absolutely amazing in my 90th year to think that William died all that time ago.

‘If he walked in that door over there, I would say: “Where have you been?” It wouldn’t surprise me at all.

‘It was a huge tragedy, but we did have two more children, you know. We always think we were fortunate to have had him for 19 years.’ 

Mary Berry has opened up about the tragic loss of her son William 36 years ago in a new interview and pH๏τoshoot with British Vogue (she is pictured in 2023)

William tragically died in a car accident while home from Bristol University in 1989, aged 19 (Mary pictured with her children Annabel, Thomas, and William in 1975)

Mary also discussed her relationship with husband Paul John March Hunnings and revealed the key to a long-lasting marriage is having ‘respect’ for one another.

The star has been married to Paul for nearly 60 years and they share two other children Thomas, 57, and Annabel, 55.

In December last year, Mary spoke about her late son William’s car accident on the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast, revealing her daughter Annabel was also in the car.

Recalling the tragic day, she said: ‘He asked if he could borrow a sports car, which he was insured for, and I said “You ask your dad”.

‘Anyway, he took his sister with him, and he just drove too fast, which was so unlike him.’

‘William was the one that you could rely on. When the phone rang after he was killed, everybody said “I’m so sorry to hear about Thomas, because Thomas was our wild one.”

‘I knew when the policemen came through the door. I remember saying to him “It must be an awful thing for you to tell us all”.’

‘It was a huge sadness but there was a bonus because Annabel – we had to go down to Wycombe hospital – they didn’t tell us then because the policemen didn’t know, so we went down.’ 

Elsewhere in the interview, Mary revealed the key to a long-lasting marriage is having ‘respect’ for one another (pictured in 2015 with her husband of nearly 60 years, Paul Hunnings)

‘And I can remember being in the corridor and I suddenly saw Annabel, in a pink tracksuit, running up towards me, and I thought “I’ve still got her”.’

Revealing how she coped, she said: ‘I was immensely lucky to have my husband. I have other friends who’ve had tragedies and the husband and wife argue, or don’t comfort each other.

‘We just felt fortunate to still have Thomas and Annabel. People were very, very kind.

‘We had 400 letters. I replied to them over the months. It’s sometimes quite nice when you’re thinking to pick out one, of people giving a little story about him (William).

‘We just had to keep busy. I didn’t want to face going back to my work in London.’