Normally the idea of 40-year-old cake isn’t particularly appealing, but this is no ordinary slice!
A 28-ounce cut ofPrince CharlesandPrincess Diana’s wedding cake sold at auction on Wednesday. And though it was expected to fetch £500 (nearly $700), the sweet piece of history actually ended up going for £1,850.
According to theBBC, luxury boat charterer Gerry Layton shelled out nearly $2,600 for the royal confection. Layton says he’s already stipulated in his will that the cake must go to charity after his death, along with the rest of his estate — though he did quip, “I will have to think of a way to stop myself from trying to eat it though.”
Before the auction,Dominic Winterauction house royal memorabilia specialist Chris Albury acknowledged he “wouldn’t recommend eating” this “curious and unique” slice of history, and added, “but after 40 years it’s clearly destined to last.”
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In accordance with royal tradition, Charles and Diana served their guests fruitcake at the reception after their nuptials — and what a fruitcake it was! Their tiered centerpiece cake they served stood 5 feet tall and weighed 225 pounds.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images
Layton’s score was one of 23 official wedding cakes created after the wedding, this hefty hunk was a gift from the Queen Mother to Moyra Smith, one of her employees at Clarence House.
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And as a bonus, Layton also picked up order of service for the wedding and a Royal Wedding Breakfast program as part of his purchase.
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Charles and Diana’s wedding cake is just one of many pieces of royal memorabilia and ephemera that have gone on display or auction in recent months.
Princess Diana.Samir Hussein/WireImage; Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Diana’s wedding dress — complete with its iconic 25-foot train! — is on loan from William, 39, and Harry, 36, and serves as the centerpiece of theRoyal Style in the Makingexhibition, which opened in June at Kensington Palace.
Also in June, a 1981 Ford Escort Ghia saloon Charles gave his bride-to-be in May 1981 as an engagement gift fetched £52,640 (nearly $73,000) at auction.
source: people.com
