Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — A "presentation piece" of cake from the 1981 wedding of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles has surfaced and is being put up for auction.
Julien's Auctions estimates the value of the dessert to be $1,000$2,000. The sliver of cake is wrapped in a paper doily and housed in a box measuring 1 by 4 ¼ by 3 inches that reads "CD/Buckingham Palace/29th July 1981," according to the auction site, with an enclosed card that reads "With best wishes from their Royal Highnesses the Prince & Princess of Wales.
The order of the carriage processional and return with confetti is enclosed.
"The cake is not suitable for consumption," the auction catalogue reads.
Princess Diana, formerly Diana Spencer, married Prince Charles of Wales on July 29, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The royal wedding was billed as a "fairytale" event and was watched by 750 million people.
The princess was killed on Aug. 31, 1997, in a car crash in Paris. Whether the cause of the accident was attributable to drunken driving or relentless paparazzi was debated for nearly two decades before English courts determined negligent driving and the paparazzi were to blame.
The auction also includes a piece of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake, valued at $600$800.