Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding cake, created for her marriage to Prince Philip on November 20, 1947, stood at an extraordinary 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and weighed over 500 pounds (227 kg). Crafted by McVitie & Price Ltd, it became known as the “10,000 Mile Cake,” a name earned because its key ingredients – including sugar, flour, and dried fruits – were sent from across the Commonwealth, notably from Australia and South Africa, at a time when post-war Britain was still enduring strict rationing.
The cake featured four tiers of rich fruitcake, each covered in intricate royal icing. Its decoration carried layers of meaning, with coats of arms, the couple’s monograms, and detailed sugarwork celebrating the unity of Britain and its Commonwealth nations. For a country still recovering from war, the grandeur of the cake was seen as both symbolic and uplifting, a gesture of shared sacrifice and hope for renewal.
Remarkably, slices of the cake have survived for decades. One such piece, preserved in its original presentation box, was discovered in Scotland and recently sold at auction for £2,200. Still in impressive condition after 77 years, it came with a letter from the Queen, making it not just a piece of confectionery, but a rare and tangible link to one of the most celebrated royal weddings of the 20th century.
0 comments:
Post a Comment