Thursday, February 28, 2013

Cake, ma'am? Slice of Queen Elizabeth's wedding cake up for auction alongside Princess Diana's engagement letters

Cake, ma'am? Slice of Queen Elizabeth's wedding cake up for auction alongside Princess Diana's engagement letters

  • The boxed fruit slice is in its original Buckingham Palace case
  • Dated 20 November 1947, it comes with a compliments slip
  • Bidding is at £161 and closes tomorrow evening

By Martha De Lacey

|

A vintage piece of cake from the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh - then Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten - is going under the hammer.

The boxed fruit slice, presented in its original Buckingham Palace case dated 20 November 1947, is accompanied by a compliments slip reading: 'With the best wishes of Their Royal Highnesses The Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh'.

The rare, 65-year-old piece of memorabilia is being sold online auction house PFC Auctions alongside another royal lot: a signed letter from a young Lady Diana Spencer thanking two girls for their congratulations her upon her 1981 engagement to Prince Charles.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day after the ceremony

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day after the ceremony

The 65-year-old slice of fruit cake comes in its original Buckingham Palace box and is accompanied by a compliments slip

Made by McVitie and Price - who also made the chocolate biscuit cake for Prince William’s wedding toKate Middleton in April 2011 - Queen Elizabeth's wedding cake weighed 500 pounds.

Dubbed the 10,000 mile wedding cake, because the ingredients were donated by the Australian Girl Guides and the rum and brandy came from South Africa, the cake featured four tiers and was nine-foot tall.

Prince Philip cut the cake using his sword and it was then served to 2,000 guests at their reception at Buckingham Palace. One layer was kept until the christening of Prince Charles and another was sent back to Australia by way of thanks.

Queen Elizabeth's wedding cake, which was dubbed the 10,000 mile wedding cake, because the ingredients were donated by the Australian Girl Guides and the rum and brandy came from South Africa

Queen Elizabeth's wedding cake, which was dubbed the 10,000 mile wedding cake, because the ingredients were donated by the Australian Girl Guides and the rum and brandy came from South Africa

But it was not the only nuptial loaf served in the palace’s Blue Drawing Room. Ten other wedding cakes were given to the royal couple, some of which were donated to hospitals.

So far the highest bid for the slice of cake is £161, with bidding closing tomorrow night at 7pm. A slice of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cake raised a staggering £1,917 the first time it appeared at auction in May 2011.

To bid on the cake visit the PFC Auction website.

Wedding of Princess Elizabeth to the Duke of Edinburgh - on the balcony at Buckingham Palace are, from left to right, King George VI, Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, Princess Elizabeth, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary

Wedding of Princess Elizabeth to the Duke of Edinburgh - on the balcony at Buckingham Palace are, from left to right, King George VI, Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, Princess Elizabeth, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary

A slice of cake from the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton sold at auction in May 2011 for £1,917

A slice of cake from the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton sold at auction in May 2011 for £1,917

A case containing wedding cake from Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 is seen on display at an exhibition in Windsor Castle, Berkshire, in 2007

A case containing wedding cake from Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 is seen on display at an exhibition in Windsor Castle, Berkshire, in 2007

'Your kind thoughts are much appreciated': A thank you letter from Diana

Also up for auction alongside the Queen's wedding cake is a signed letter from Lady Diana Spencer thanking 'Gayle and Jo' for their letter of congratulations upon the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles on 24 February 1981.

In the Buckingham Palace-headed letter Lady Diana Spencer writes: 'Dear Gayle and Jo, I would very much like to thank you for your extremely kind letter of congratulations on my engagement. Your kind thoughts are much appreciated. Yours sincerely, Diana.'

Prince Charles and  Princess Diana divorced in August 1996, one year before her death.

The current bid for the letter is £409 and the lot closes tomorrow night at 7pm.

A letter from Lady Diana Spencer to 'Gayle and Jo', left, thanking them for their letter of congratulations upon her engagement to Prince Charles on 24 February 1981, right

No comments:

Post a Comment