A piece of 27-year-old cake from the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana has been sold to an anonymous bidder at auction for 1,200 pounds.

The slice of marzipan and icing -- decorated with the royal coat of arms -- came from one of 22 cakes distributed to royal staff after Charles and Diana's nuptials in July 1981.

It was given to Moyra Smith, a member of the Queen Mother's household, who kept the topping in cling film as a souvenir. When she died, her husband Don saw no reason to keep it.

"He had no particular feeling for it and will donate the money to several charities," said auctioneer Dominic Winter in Gloucestershire, who sold the item on Wednesday.

Winter, who usually deals in antique books, said on his website: "The slice of cake icing is in remarkably good condition considering the difficulties involved in removing this from the cake."

"A highly unusual -- and probably inedible -- collector's item." >>>>