A preserved slice of the wedding cake from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s 1947 marriage has recently made waves at auction, fetching £2,200 ($2,800). Auctioneers described it as a “very rare slice.” The cake has remained in pristine condition, although experts advise it is no longer fit for consumption. The auctioned slice was originally gifted in a small box bearing the silver emblem of then-Princess Elizabeth. Encased in its original packaging, the box also contains an intricate doily, which has contributed to the cake’s remarkable preservation over the past 77 years.
Gifted to royal household staff
This unique piece of royal history was initially presented to Marion Polson, a long-serving housekeeper at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. Ms. Polson, who worked at the royal residence from 1931 to 1969, received the slice directly from Buckingham Palace, along with a personal letter from the future queen herself.
In a typewritten note, Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for the wedding gift Polson had sent. “We are both enchanted with the dessert service; the different flowers and the beautiful colouring will, I know, be greatly admired by all who see it. This is a present which we shall use constantly, and whenever we do we shall think of the kindness and good wishes for our happiness, which it represents,” reads the typewritten note, signed by the future queen.
The packaging bears the notation, “The Wedding of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece R.N. on 20th November 1947 (later H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh),” highlighting its provenance. This carefully preserved relic is addressed to “Miss Polson, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland,” with a postmark dated April 21, 1948.
The legacy of a remarkable wedding cake
The original wedding cake was a marvel of its time, standing an impressive nine feet tall and weighing approximately 500 pounds (227 kilograms). Designed with coats of arms from both families, the cake featured sugar sculptures representing the royal couple’s favorite activities. In total, the massive confection yielded 2,000 slices for guests, while additional portions were distributed to various charities and organizations. A single tier of the cake was even reserved for the christening of the couple’s first child, Prince Charles.
Over the years, preserved pieces of the 1947 wedding cake have surfaced at auctions, becoming highly valued collector’s items. In 2013, another slice of the historic cake was auctioned at Christie’s, selling for £1,750. The enduring fascination with such royal artifacts continues to drive demand among collectors, making items like these both rare and highly sought after.