SLICE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S WEDDING CAKE SELLS AT AUCTION

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married in 1947. The cake remained in its original packaging, and its new owner vows he will taste it.

A slice of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wedding cake, nearly 80 years old, has sold for £27,000 (over €33,000), and its new owner even intends to taste it. The slice is one of 2,000 cut from the alcohol-soaked fruitcake served at their 1947 wedding. It had since been left forgotten in a drawer until it was purchased by entrepreneur Gerry Layton, a big fan of the British Royal Family. He even promised to taste it on his 65th birthday.

The Story Behind the Slice

This priceless slice of cake was given to Chief Petty Officer F. Lownes, who served in the Royal Navy, during the reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth and her new husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for their guests at Buckingham Palace. It was contained in a box, as was customary at the time, to be taken home and enjoyed with family. The cake, measuring 10x7.5 cm, was never actually eaten and was bequeathed to the son of His Majesty's Naval petty officer. The slice remained in its original box until today, featuring an embossed silver crown with the "EP" (Elizabeth and Philip) monogram and the date on the lid.

The Auction

The slice of cake was put up for sale by Reeman Dansie Auctioneers in Colchester, Essex, with a starting price of £2,900. The price nearly tenfold through fierce bidding until Gerry Layton secured it for a hefty £27,000. He claims he plans to taste the cake next year on his 65th birthday, when he hopes to host a grand party aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Incidentally, Layton also owns a slice of Charles and Diana's wedding cake.

A Rarity

"This slice of Queen Elizabeth's cake is extremely rare and is probably the last one still in existence," Gerry Layton told the DailyMail. "It's in good condition, having remained packaged and stored in its box for almost 80 years. On my birthday, I will cut off a third of it and flambé it in rum to kill off any bacteria. But if anything happens to me, at least I'll go out in style on the Britannia," he quipped with typical English humor.

Curiosities

The auction house noted that the cake served at Queen Elizabeth and Philip's wedding was nicknamed the "10,000-mile cake" because, due to ongoing rationing from World War II, the ingredients for the 500-pound fruitcake were flown from South Africa and Australia to London. It was cut by Prince Philip with his ceremonial sword, and 2,000 slices were produced for banquet guests, while hundreds more were sent, with handwritten notes, to various organizations and charities worldwide.