77-Year-Old Slice of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Wedding Cake Fetches $2,800
A 77-year-old slice of wedding cake from the historic marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has been sold at auction for £2,200 ($2,800). This rare piece of royal memorabilia, preserved since the iconic wedding on November 20, 1947, was auctioned by Reeman Dansie Auctioneers, further emphasizing the enduring fascination with British royal history.
The slice is from the elaborate nine-foot-tall, 500-pound wedding cake designed by McVitie and Price Ltd. This towering masterpiece was adorned with intricate decorations, including family coats of arms and sugar-iced figures symbolizing the couple's shared interests. Over 2,000 slices of the cake were served to guests, and additional portions were distributed to charities. Notably, one tier of the cake was saved for the christening of Prince Charles.
What makes this particular slice extraordinary is its excellent preservation. It comes packaged in a box featuring the silver crest of then-Princess Elizabeth, along with an elegant doily and a letter addressed to Marion Polson, the housekeeper at Holyrood House in Edinburgh, Scotland. The royal couple gave this slice to Polson, along with a letter from Elizabeth thanking her for a wedding present. In the letter, Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for Polson’s gift—a dessert service—calling it “delightful” and noting that its bright colors and floral designs would be admired by all who saw it. The typewritten letter, signed by the future Queen, adds sentimental and historical value to this unique artifact.
While no longer edible, the slice remains a connection to one of the most important historical events in contemporary British royal history. The wedding, held at Westminster Abbey, symbolized hope for a Britain recovering from the devastations of World War II. Every aspect of the wedding—from the grand ceremony to the towering cakes—exemplified tradition and pageantry befitting a royal event.
Pieces from royal wedding cakes have often been sold at auction. In 2013, another slice of Elizabeth and Philip's wedding cake fetched £1,750 ($2,300) at Christie's. A piece from the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana sold for £1,850 ($2,565) in 2021. This slice was encased in plastic wrap and preserved within a cake tin, decorated with ornate icing, including a coat of arms and motifs.
The continued sale of royal cake slices highlights the public's strong interest in artifacts tied to royalty. These items represent more than just collectibles; they serve as tangible fragments of history, moments of collective joy, and celebration. While the buyer of this particular slice remains anonymous, its sale underscores the value placed on rare and unique connections to royal traditions. Preserved meticulously over nearly eight decades, the cake stands as a testament to the care and regard for the legacies of the British monarchy. As a product of one of the most magnificent royal weddings in history, it offers a glimpse into the splendor of tradition that continues to captivate global admirers.
