Royal Wedding Cakes: A Trip around the World
The 1981 royal wedding cake of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles – Chief Petty Officer Cook David Avery poses with the dessert (Elle)
Those who follow the fast-paced and unpredictable world of auction houses might have recently noticed a special item auctioned this coming August 11th. Indeed, an artwork, an antique, or a first-edition. It’s a slice of the royal wedding cake of Prince Charles and Lady Diana from 1981! Yes, you read correctly. Conserved and kept in near-perfect condition for forty years, with the English coat of arms in icing, the slice will soon be up for grabs at the Dominic Winter Auctioneers. It is estimated to go for 200 to 300 English pounds – for now. If you’re missing a piece in your collection and love everything royal, it’s your chance to land a rare item. If you do happen to be the lucky buyer however, we advise against eating it.
With royal desserts back in the spotlight, why not dive into this luxurious tradition. After all, no matter the country, a royal wedding is always a grand celebration. Whether traditional or modern, their cakes never cease to amaze. Let Dessert Advisor take you on a trip around the world of beautiful royal desserts.
Closeup on the decoration of one layer of Queen Elizabeth II wedding cake (Associated Press)
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
Let’s start with one of the most well-known royal couples, then-Princess Elizabeth II and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. The latter sadly passed away earlier this year. They celebrated their wedding in 1947 with this grandiose, 9-ft tall cake. Weighing 500 lbs, this four-tier cake could produce 2,000 slices!
The 1947 Queen’s cake was recently recreated for a TV show (Mirror)
It was a fruitcake made with dozens of oranges and lemons and three gallons of Navy Rum, complete with intricate designs and laced with flowers. It even depicted scenes from the couple’s lives on its multiple facades! Following the tradition, they cut the cake with Philip’s sword. McVitie and Price Ltd. created the cake, the same company who baked desserts for William and Kate’s wedding..
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco wedding cake (Pinterest)
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier
For the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956, the pastry chefs at Monte-Carlo’s famous Hôtel de Paris provided an elegant six-tier royal wedding cake. Its upper two tiers had a built-in cage holding a pair of live turtle doves. These were released when the couple cut into the cake with the prince’s sword. On top of the cake was a revolving miniature of the bride and groom that played “Ave Maria” and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”.
The wedding cake of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock (Pinterest)
Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Let’s continue with the family of Monaco. The next impressive and extravagant royal nuptials cake is from 2011. The union was between the current prince, Albert II and Charlene Wittstock, a South-African Olympic swimmer. An enormous fifty kilos of strawberries went into this seven-tier creation. With its huge size and shooting stars, it definitely made an impression on their guests. To pay homage to her roots, Princess Charlene also made sure that there were Proteas, South Africa’s national flower, on the cake.
A modern take for the Swedish royal couple (The Fashion Bride)
Prince Carl Phillip and Sofia Hellqvist
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist chose a very modern design for their wedding cake in 2015. It featured multiple tiers, each one standing on its own tier with lights shining from inside each of them. Its large swirling silver ribbon topped with a copy of the Swedish crown made for an unconventional, yet still regal, impression. Pastry chef Roy Fares created this cake, blending strawberry, rhubarb, and pistachio. He even included Pop Rocks in the batter, ensuring a delightful surprise for guests.
Wedding cake for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (Pinterest)
Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie
The wedding of Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, was celebrated in October 2018. Keeping with the autumnal theme of their nuptials, the couple chose a five-tier cake decorated with orange, red, yellow, and green leaves. The English baker Sophie Cabot and her team created this royal wedding cake with hundreds of eggs, dozens of packs of butter, and a great amount of sugar. She even started working on this cake months in advance to perfect the detailed sugar flowers, acorns, and maple leaves.
These beautiful creations produced a magical effect at the royal weddings and definitely lived up to the grandeur of their hosts. Bakers let their imagination run wild and put all their skills into making these royal wedding cakes, and the results didn’t disappoint, whether traditional or modern. But kings, queens, princes, and princesses don’t have to be the only ones served with exquisite and impressive cakes. Check out the wealth of cakes at Dessert Advisor and perhaps enjoy a regal experience on your next special occasion.
