Preserved for Nearly 80 Years... Queen Elizabeth's Wedding Cake Slice Up for Auction in UK

Created from Ingredients Sourced Across the Commonwealth as a Symbol of Hope
Divided into 2,000 Pieces and Presented as Gifts After the Wedding

A slice of the wedding cake used at the 1947 wedding of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1926-2022) and her husband Prince Philip is up for auction. On October 15 (local time), British media outlet The Sun and other foreign news sources reported that a piece of the royal wedding cake from nearly 80 years ago is being auctioned.

This wedding cake was made from ingredients sourced across the Commonwealth as a symbol of hope after the war, and after the wedding, it was divided into 2,000 pieces and given as gifts to various organizations and individuals. Instagram hansons_auctioneers

At Queen Elizabeth II’s royal wedding on November 20, 1947, a four-tiered cake standing 2.7 meters tall and weighing 226 kilograms was used for the celebration. The cake was reportedly created under the direction of Frederick Schur, the head confectioner at the Scottish company McVitie and Price. At the time, this wedding cake was made from ingredients sourced across the Commonwealth as a symbol of hope after the war, and after the wedding, it was divided into 2,000 pieces and presented as gifts to various organizations and individuals. The slice now up for auction was given to Cyril Dickman, who worked as a staff member for the royal family for over 50 years; he passed away in 2012 at the age of 85.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson stated, "There have been several occasions when royal cake slices have come up for auction, but this is the first time a cake from such a long-lasting royal marriage is being sold." He added, "By itself, it may just be an old box of cake, but inside is a piece of British history." He also remarked, "The cake has been preserved quite well over the years, but that doesn't mean I want to eat it." The cake slice is expected to fetch between 150 and 200 pounds (approximately 28,000 to 38,000 Korean won) at the auction.

Previously, the last remaining slice of a British royal wedding cake was sold for $4,300 in November last year. A slice from the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was auctioned for $3,483 in August 2021, and a piece from the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate was sold for $7,500 in 2014.