A slice of wedding cake from the 77th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s marriage that was found in a suitcase under a bed has gone up for sale.
The “incredibly fragile” alcoholic fruitcake was one of 2,000 handed out to guests after the royal wedding on November 20, 1947.
The royal couple’s lavish cake measured a whopping 9 feet tall and consisted of four tiers.
The portion was sent by Princess Elizabeth to Marion Polson, housekeeper at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from 1931 to 1969.
A piece of wedding cake from the 77th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s marriage that was found in a suitcase under a bed goes up for sale
Queen Elizabeth II with her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on their wedding day, 20 November 1947.
It was a token of gratitude after having bought the newlyweds a “delicious” dessert service as a wedding gift.
The Daily Mail report on the cake
She kept the cake until her death in the 1980s, when she stored it in a suitcase under a bed along with some of her other belongings.
Her Scottish family recently rediscovered the 4 x 3 inch slice in its original presentation box along with a letter from Elizabeth on Buckingham Palace paper dated April 1948.
It says: ‘My husband and I are deeply touched to know that you were involved in giving us such a lovely wedding gift.
‘We are both delighted with the desert service; I know the different flowers and beautiful coloring will be greatly admired by all who see it.’
The portion will be auctioned at auctioneers Reeman Dansie, of Colchester, Essex, with an estimate of £500.
James Grinter, specialist at Reeman Dansie, said: “Marion Polson died in the 1980s and the cake has literally been in a suitcase under the bed with her other things ever since, until it was sent to us from Scotland.
“The fact that it has been preserved like this and has not seen the light of day for many years has probably helped to preserve it.
The portion was sent by Princess Elizabeth with a letter of thanks to Marion Polson, housekeeper at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from 1931 to 1969.
The royal couple’s lavish cake measured a whopping 9 feet tall and consisted of four tiers.
The business card included in the box in which the piece of cake comes.
The cake is seen covered by a piece of patterned paper. It is expected to sell for up to £500.
The original packaging complete with address label. It was sent to Marion Polson at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The presentation box that the cake was shipped in. All wedding guests received a piece of the nine-tier cake.
“It’s a very strange thing, a piece of a time capsule, although I wouldn’t want to eat it!”
The royal wedding cake was designed by the head baker at McVitie and Price Ltd, the confectionery company known today as McVitie’s.
As wartime rationing was still underway, the ingredients for the £500 fruitcake had to be flown to the UK from South Africa and Australia, earning it the nickname “the 10,000 mile cake.” “.
It was cut by Prince Philip with his ceremonial sword and produced 2,000 slices for guests, with hundreds more sent with handwritten notes to various charities and organizations around the world.
The sale will take place on November 5.