Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding cake slice sells for a whopping $2,553

Princess Diana and Prince Charles married in a magnificent ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral over 40 years ago and now one lucky royal fan has secured a piece of history from their big day to treasure forever.  

• Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding cake slice has sold at auction for a staggering $2,553 (£1,850). 
• The slice of cake comes from one of their 23 wedding cakes, made for them to enjoy on their special day back in 1981. 
• In other royal news, Prince Charles shares rare photo of childhood home with the Queen and Prince Philip. 

Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding in 1981 was a truly breath-taking affair not likely to be forgotten by royal fans across the world. The marriage of the eldest of Queen Elizabeth II's children was a day of great ceremony and following the exchanging of vows at St Paul's Cathedral the newly-weds made their way back through the adoring crowds to Buckingham Palace. It was here that they are understood to have enjoyed their reception and for the Prince and Princess of Wales' big day, there were also no less than 23 official wedding cakes. 

And now one lucky royal fan has secured a slice of one of these historic creations at auction. The slice in question came from a cake which was decorated with the royal coat-of-arms in gold, red, blue and silver, along with a silver horseshoe and white decorative icing.

The wedding cake slice went go on sale on August 11 2021 and it was initially expected to raise around $689 (£500). However, by the time the auction began, it seemed that interest was significantly higher. 

As reported by the BBC, the auctioneers were "amazed" by the level of interest, with the winning bid being placed by luxury boat charterer, Gerry Layton, in Leeds. He will reportedly be leaving the slice of wedding cake along with his estate to charity in his will. 

Speaking after securing this wonderful piece of history, Gerry explained, "I also thought that I could put it up as a raffle prize with some of the money going to Centrepoint, which Princess Di was patron of.

"I will have to think of a way to stop myself from trying to eat it though," he added. 

Gerry is understood to be planning to travel from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire to pick up his wedding cake slice next week. 

His winning bid surpassed all expectations, with royal memorabilia specialist Chris Albury of Dominic Winter Auctioneers suggesting that the slice received even more attention now than when it was previously sold with a personal note from Princess Diana and Prince Charles. 

"It seemed to get far more attention than when we sold it with a Charles and Diana thank-you letter 13 years ago," Chris declared. 

"The bidding started at [$414] £300 and with commission bids, the internet and phone bidding quickly rose to the winning price of [$2,553) £1,850. This was an irresistible piece of royal memorabilia history for many."

The wedding cake slice had sold to Dominic Winter Auctioneers back in 2008, having been preserved in plastic wrap and housed in a cake tin by it's previous owner, Moyra Smith. Moyra worked at Clarence House for the Queen Mother at the time of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding and carefully preserved the slice. 

The BBC reports that she stored it with a label that read, "Handle with Care - Prince Charles & Princess Diane's [sic] Wedding Cake", which she also signed and dated 27 July 1981.

The auctioneer is understood to have stated that it "appears to be in exactly the same good condition as when originally sold", however given that the slice of cake is now 40 years old, they "advise against eating it". 

The winning bid on the Prince and Princess of Wales' wedding cake slice comes just weeks after another selection of Princess Diana's personal possessions were auctioned off. The late royal's childhood bicycle was sold by East Bristol Auctions on 24 July 2021, alongside a personal handwritten note from her. 

The red 'Chopper' style bike was adored by Diana as a child in the 1970s, while the handwritten note provides an insight into her inner circle growing up at Althorp House in Northamptonshire.