Slice of Charles and Diana's 40-year-old wedding cake to be auctioned

The cake has come up for auction once again, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding

A slice of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding cake could fetch up to £500 at auction.

It was given to Moyra Smith, a member of the Queen Mother's household at Clarence House, who preserved the topping with cling film.

"It appears to be in exactly the same good condition, but we advise against eating it," said Chris Albury from Gloucestershire's Dominic Winter Auctioneers.

It will be auctioned on 11 August.

Mrs Smith kept it in an old floral cake tin and taped a handmade label to the lid, reading: "Handle with Care - Prince Charles & Princess Diane's [sic] Wedding Cake," which she signed and dated 27 July 1981.

Her family sold the cake to a collector in 2008 and it has now come up for auction 40 years after Charles and Diana were married.

Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding was watched by a worldwide TV audience of more than 750 million

The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, who became Diana, Princess of Wales, married at St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July, 1981

The couple separated 11 years later in 1992, and divorced in 1996.

The large slice, from one of the 23 official wedding cakes, features the royal coat-of-arms coloured in gold, red, blue, and silver.

Mr Albury said he expected it to fetch between £300 and £500 when it goes under the hammer, along with an order of service, ceremonial details and a royal wedding breakfast programme.