A slice of wedding cake from the marriage of Charles and Diana fetched £1,850 at auction – 40 years after the big day.
The piece features a sugared motif of the Royal coat-of-arms coloured in gold, red, blue, and silver.
It was given to Moyra Smith, a member of the Queen Mother’s household at Clarence House.
She preserved the cake cling film and kept it in an old floral cake tin
She added a handmade label to the lid reading:
“Handle with Care – Prince Charles & Princess Diane’s (sic) Wedding Cake”.
She signed and dated the “treasure” 29/7/81.
Mrs Smith’s family sold the cake in 2008 to a collector.
The cake was told by Dominic Winter Auctioneers in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
It was estimated between £300 and £500.
However, worldwide bidding saw the price hit £1,850 before the item was knocked down to a buyer in the Middle East.
Chris Albury, of Dominic Winter Auctioneers, said:
“We were amazed at the numbers of people wanting to bid on this large and unique piece of royal cake icing.
“It seems that this was an irresistible piece of royal memorabilia
“It seemed to get far more attention than when we sold it with a Charles and Diana thank you letter 13 years ago.
“There were lots of inquiries from bidders, mostly in the UK, USA and several countries in the Middle East.
“The bidding started at £300 and with commission bids, the internet and phone bidding, quickly rose to the winning price of £1,850.
“It was bought by an internet bidder in the Middle East.
“As yet we haven’t had a chance to speak to them to get a reaction or ask why they bought it, but it seems that this was an irresistible piece of royal memorabilia history for many.”
