Slice of history: icing from Charles and Diana wedding cake sells for £1,850

Gerry Layton, a royal supporter from Leeds, bought the cake topping and marzipan base for his collection of memorabilia

An ardent royalist has bought the topping from a slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake for 1,850 ($2,565) at auction, more than 40 years after the couple married.

The large piece of cake icing and marzipan base features a detailed, sugared design of the royal coat of arms in gold, red, blue and silver. It was given to Moya Smith, a member of the Queen Mother's staff, who preserved it with cling film and dated it 29 July 1981.