The Most Expensive Slice Of Royal Wedding Cake Auctioned Off

As Los Angeles Times reported, a slice of cake from Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson’s wedding sold for $29,900 in 1998. The price came as a surprise since the cake was initially valued between $500 and $1000. The buyer, entrepreneur Benjamin Yim, explained that he bought the cake for sentimental reasons. “It represents the epitome of a great romance — truly romantic and elegant,” he said. “We intend to keep it. We’re sure not going to eat it.”

However, not all collectors share Yim’s aversion to eating decades-old cake. Royal Central reports that, in 2021, Gerry Layton dropped £2,170 ($2,511) on a slice of Charles and Diana’s wedding cake. After donating his piece to a charity auction, Layton spontaneously repurchased it — this time for £2,100 ($2,430). His reasoning? He hadn’t found the courage to taste it and wanted to try it. While Layton’s desire to taste the cake may be ill-advised, it might not do him much harm. According to Reader’s Digest, royal wedding cakes have traditionally been made of fruitcake, which is extremely shelf stable.

As food safety researcher Ben Chapman told NC State, fruitcakes are resistant to bacteria because they’re generally comprised of dried fruit and nuts. While the USDA advises against eating fruitcake that has lived more than a few months in the fridge, Chapman explains that it could potentially last much longer.