Great British Bake Off icon Mary Berry has never avoided speaking about the greatest tragedy of her life - the death of her son William, which happened when he was just 19. In a candid new interview with Vogue, Mary has opened up about how she still keeps her son's memory alive over three decades after his passing.

William died unexpectedly in a car accident while home from university in 1989. Mary was waiting for him and his sister Annabelle to get back to the house for lunch when the police turned up at her door to give her the devastating news that William would never be coming back. In a BBC documentary about her life called The Mary Berry story, the former Great British Bake Off judge shared: "It was a glorious January day and it was sort of 1 o'clock and he wasn't home. The doorbell rang and there was a policeman there, and immediately then I knew why. And he said, 'There's been an accident and I'm sorry to say your son is dead.'"

Mary and her husband Paul rushed to the hospital to see their son one last time. She added: "He just looked so beautiful and so lovely, his little cold face, and it was nice to say farewell."

Now, 36 years later, William is still very present in Mary's heart and mind. The Vogue columnist who interviewed her noted that she looked shocked to realise how long is has been since her son's death.

She told the magazine: "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."

After the tragic accident, she found comfort in the years they did get to spend together as a family. Mary added: "You know, we were so lucky to have him. He brought us such joy. I feel for people who have lost their child in a skiing accident or when they don’t know where they died. We got to be a family unit [right up until] those few hours before he died."

Mary also reflected on how much of an active presence William still is in his family even after death. She shared: "We still talk about him – the grandchildren particularly, the boys who love rugby.

"[Annabel’s 16-year-old son] Hobie will come [home from school] and say: 'I scored. William would have been proud, wouldn’t he?' Yes. He would be proud."

The celebrity chef admitted that she wanted to stay inside and be left with her suffering after her son's passing, but said the best thing for her was forcing herself to spend time outdoors and talk about her feelings.

However, she did acknowledge that grief affects everyone differently. Mary said: "You can’t preach. Some people keep it to themselves – they never want to discuss it with their other half. Sometimes it ends in divorce. You know, it’s different for every person."

At the same time, she does not want her suffering to be elevated above the loss that every family experiences. Mary matter of factly told Vogue: "Every family has disasters. You know, a partner that dies very early, a much-loved mother, whatever it may be. And this was our tragedy."