Royal Wedding Cake Auction: William And Kate's Slice Of History

Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake was an eight-tiered fruit cake, weighing 220 pounds and standing three feet tall. It was designed by Fiona Cairns and featured 900 handcrafted sugar-paste flowers. The couple auctioned off a slice of their wedding cake in 2018, with the proceeds going to charity. The slice sold for $7,500 at Julien's Auction House in Los Angeles, setting a record for the price of a piece of their wedding cake.

A slice of William and Kate's wedding cake was sold for $7,500 at Julien's Auction House in 2014

A slice of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake sold for a record price of $7,500 at Julien's Auction House in Los Angeles in December 2014. The fruit cake was served at the couple's wedding ceremony in 2011 and was part of an eight-tier cake. The cake was reportedly baked over five to six weeks and was said to hit its peak flavour after 13 months.

The auction exceeded the auction house's expectations, as it was initially predicted that the slice of cake would earn a maximum of $2,000. The cake was presented in its original white and gold presentation tin, designed by Peter Windett and Sally Mangum, and came with a blank wedding invitation printed on royal stationery.

The slice of cake was sold by a wedding guest and included a printed card from Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, which read:

> "With best wishes from TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in celebration of the wedding of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."

The auction also included bidding on other royal items, such as five of Princess Diana's dresses, which were expected to fetch $60,000 to $100,000 each.

The sale of slices of royal wedding cake is not uncommon, and pieces of cake from Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding have also been auctioned off. In August 2021, a slice of their cake sold for $2,500, while in October 2022, another slice sold for $190.

The cake was designed by Fiona Cairns and took five weeks to complete

The wedding cake of Prince William and Kate Middleton was designed by Fiona Cairns, a renowned baker with years of experience creating incredible sweets. Cairns was approached just a few months before the royal wedding, which took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey, with a reception at Buckingham Palace.

Cairns, together with her team of 50 chefs, worked meticulously for five weeks to create the magnificent eight-tier fruit cake. The cake stood at three feet tall and weighed a substantial 220 pounds. It featured intricate sugar work, including 900 handcrafted leaf and floral embellishments made from sugar paste.

The design process for the cake was inspired by the architectural features of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, where the cake was displayed. The Duchess of Cambridge requested that the cake reflect the garlands on the walls of the Picture Gallery, as well as the flowers of the four UK nations.

Cairns recalled that the Duchess had a very specific vision for the cake, which included a softer icing made from sugar paste instead of the traditional royal icing. The cake also incorporated 17 different types of flowers and leaves, such as lily of the valley, Irish shamrock, English rose, Scottish thistle, and Welsh daffodil. Each flower was carefully selected for its symbolism and together, they represented the "language of flowers", as requested by the Duchess.

The result was a stunning pure white cake that flawlessly captured the elegance and grandeur of the royal wedding.

The cake was inspired by the garlands on the walls of the Buckingham Palace picture gallery

The wedding cake of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was a grand affair. The couple's cake was a towering three-foot-tall, eight-tiered fruit cake, weighing a staggering 220 pounds. The cake, crafted by renowned baker Fiona Cairns, featured intricate Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers and softer icing with a sugar paste base.

The design of the cake drew inspiration from the garlands adorning the walls of the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery, where the cake was displayed. The Picture Gallery, designed by architect John Nash, is a space renowned for its fine art and elegant architecture. The garlands, along with the floral and ornamental details, served as a fitting muse for the cake's intricate sugarcraft.

Fiona Cairns, an experienced baker, meticulously crafted the cake over five weeks, ensuring each tier exhibited unique floral designs. The bride, Kate Middleton, specifically requested the incorporation of 17 different flowers and plants, such as roses, acorns, and ivy leaves, chosen for their symbolic significance. The cake's pure white design seamlessly blended with the elegant surroundings of the Picture Gallery.

The cake, with its impressive size and handcrafted details, became a focal point of the royal wedding, stealing the show alongside the happy couple. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cake not only delighted the guests but also became a part of royal history, with slices being preserved and auctioned off to enthusiasts worldwide.

The cake was three feet tall, eight-tiered, and weighed 220 pounds

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cake was a true spectacle, standing tall at three feet and weighing a massive 220 pounds. The eight-tiered cake was not only a delicious treat but also a stunning work of art.

Each tier of the cake was carefully crafted and decorated with intricate details. The cake featured the couple's monogram front and centre, surrounded by a plethora of handcrafted sugar flowers and leaves. In total, the cake boasted over 900 individual sugar-paste embellishments, including roses, English roses, Scottish thistles, and Welsh daffodils. The sugar flowers represented the national flowers of the four United Kingdom nations, symbolising unity and celebration.

The cake's height and size were also significant, making it a true showstopper at the wedding. With a total of eight tiers, the cake towered over the guests, creating a grand and stately display. The cake's impressive height was a result of the couple's desire to have a more modest and intimate feel compared to previous royal weddings.

The cake's weight of 220 pounds further emphasised its grandeur and opulence. It took a team of bakers several weeks to create this massive confection, carefully assembling and decorating each tier to perfection. The cake's weight also made it a stable and sturdy centrepiece, ensuring it remained stable and intact throughout the celebrations.

The cake's size, height, and weight combined to create a true masterpiece that not only delighted the taste buds but also wowed the guests with its intricate details and impressive presence. It was a true reflection of the couple's elegance and style, adding a touch of sweetness and humility to their special day.

The cake was served to 650 close friends and family at the reception

The wedding cake of Prince William and Kate Middleton was served to 650 close friends and family who attended the afternoon reception at Buckingham Palace. The cake was an eight-tiered fruit cake, standing three feet tall and weighing 220 pounds. It was designed by Fiona Cairns, who was approached just a few months before the wedding. The cake was inspired by the garlands on the walls of the Buckingham Palace picture gallery, where the cake was displayed, and featured 17 different types of flowers and plants, including roses, acorns, ivy leaves, lily of the valley, Irish shamrock, English rose, Scottish thistle, and Welsh daffodil. The sugar paste flowers were handcrafted, with over 900 individual decorations.

Cairns revealed that the cake was intended to communicate the 'language of flowers', reflecting the 'flowers of the four UK nations'. This was a specific request from the Duchess, who also asked for the cake to reflect the architecture of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, including the detailing, garlands, and hanging ribbons and bows. The cake was also to be completely white, with no colour, gold, or glitter.

The cake was served at the reception, with some slices also presented in commemorative tins as souvenirs for special guests. The top tiers were preserved, following tradition, to be served at the christening of the couple's first child.

The royal couple later auctioned off slices of the cake for charity, with one piece selling for $7,500 at Julien's Auction House in Los Angeles in 2014.

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