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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Portion of Royal Wedding Cake
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Portion of Royal Wedding Cake

Artifact IDMO 1948.80.10
Object Type Relic, Historic
Maker (British, founded 1839)
Date1947
Mediumcake, paper, cardboard
Dimensionsoverall H 1 1/4 in x W 2 3/4 in x D 4 1/8 in (3.2 cm x 7 cm x 10.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA slice of fruitcake from the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The piece of wedding cake is wrapped in its original translucent baking parchment and is housed in an ivory-colored cardboard box with silver embossed text on the cover that reads: [image of a crown] / EP / BUCKINGHAM PALACE / 20TH NOVEMBER 1947.

Stored in the box, with the cake, is a small paper doily and a card with silver text that reads: With the Best Wishes of / Their Royal Highnesses / The Princess Elizabeth / and / The Duke of Edinburgh.
Historical NoteOn November 20, 1947, Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) was wed to His Royal Highness Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in London. The nine foot tall, 500-pound wedding cake reflected the significance of the event with four tiers of sculptured sugar made by McVitie and Price, Ltd., from ingredients given as a wedding present by the Australian Girl Guides. The Duke used his Mountbatten sword to cut the cake during the wedding reception. Pieces of cake were later given as gifts to friends and British schoolchildren.

This piece is one such gift sent to Eleanor Roosevelt soon after the Royal wedding.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1948
Credit LineGift of Eleanor Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view