A royal slice of history is set to be unveiled in the Midlands as a piece of Queen Victoria’s daughter’s wedding cake goes up for sale at the NEC Antiques for Everyone fair this week.
Antiques dealer John Shepherd is selling a one-inch wide slice which formed part of the grand 5ft tall cake made for Princess Louise, on her marriage to the Marquis of Lorne in 1871.
Mr Shepherd, who comes from Kent, is understood to have acquired the piece of cake several months ago with the intention of selling it at the NEC fair.
He said: “This is a fantastic piece of history and is a wonderful heirloom to pass on to future generations.”
And the cost? The asking price is £145.
A spokesman for Antiques for Everyone said: “We think this is a one-off piece of the cake and don’t know if any other bits have survived from 1871. But it may be there are other people who have slices of cake from royal weddings.”
The Princess Louise wedding cake was probably one of the most ostentatious of the Victorian era, standing 5ft tall from its base to the top tier and weighing more than 225 pounds.
It was elaborately decorated by Her Majesty’s chief confectioner and took three months to create. The base was embellished with white satin that bore the coats of arms of the bride and groom, while the cake itself held wreathes of orange blossoms and small vases containing the same flowers. Atop the cake stood doves drinking from a fountain, four statues and a temple.
The NEC fair will also include a range of jewellery, vintage clothing, furniture and ceramics, as well as a collection of stunning engagement rings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
More than 50,000 antiques will be on sale, with 350 specialist dealers from around the world on hand to advise visitors.
The fair runs from tomorrow until Sunday.
