Prince Charles and Diana's wedding relic sells for just $20—'The quirkiest find of the year!'

This Charles and Diana wedding artefact isn't exactly something you can hang on your wall

Charles and Diana wedding party favor sells for just £15—but we're not just why anyone would want it
(Image credit: Getty)

An expired snack from a Charles and Diana wedding party has been snapped up at a recent auction, proving there's nothing royal fans won't do to connect with the late princess.


A royal fan has satisfied his hunger for Charles and Diana wedding memorabilia in the most fitting way possible—with a surviving pastry from the iconic day. 

The anonymous bidder picked up the 40-year-old bun, which was found in a mystery house clearance, at an Oxfordshire auction last week. Don't worry though—it won't be possible to take a bite of the expired treat. 

The relic is coated in varnish and bears the label, "Abingdon Bun Throwing 29th July 1981 Wedding of Prince of Wales", making it (thankfully) inedible today. It was baked for the historic town's 400-year-old bun throwing tradition, which is observed to mark large-scale royal occasions. While some folks chose to enjoy their bun, it wasn't uncommon to preserve it and stash it away as a keepsake. 

“It’s certainly a bit of an auction oddity but there could be a bun fight to buy it," Jasper Marsh, a valuer at Hanson Holloway’s Ross, joked in the run-up to the auction. 

Luckily, there was no need to be concerned. Not only were no crumbs shed in the bidding process, but there was also very little competition to win the gone-off cake. The bun ultimately sold for just $20 (£15), making it one of the cheapest royal artifacts to be sold in recent auctions. 

Princess Diana's shame bike was sold at auction in April for approximately $60,000 (£44,000), while her famous Ford Escort went for approximately $71,000 (£52,000) to the highest bidder in June. 

While it may not be the most valuable of royal treasures, the bun is still a sweet throwback to Charles and Diana's wedding. The couple tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981, in front of 2650 guests—as well as over 750 million television viewers. 

Express Newspapers/Getty

Princess Diana and Prince Charles stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England, July 29, 1981

(Image credit: Express Newspapers/Getty)

Princess Diana arrived at the church in a dramatic silk taffeta wedding dress, complete with a 25ft long train and 153-yard tulle veil, before being accompanied up the aisle by her father, Earl John Spencer. 

A reception at Buckingham Palace followed, which saw 120 guests come together to celebrate the bride and groom's special day over a decadent breakfast of brill in lobster sauce and cream-coated strawberries. 

After cutting the cake and performing their first dance, the couple briefly parted so that Diana could change out of her wedding gown. She re-emerged wearing a comfortable pink dress, before departing with Charles for their notoriously ill-fated honeymoon. 

The public also joined in on the festivities, marking the occasion with street parties, private gatherings, and of course—friendly bun fights. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.