Reeman Dansie Director, Chris Leeson talking phone bids for the auction of Royal lots at Reeman Dansie, Severalls Business Park, Colchester

Colchester: Hundreds bid for rare Royal items at auction

Amie Keeley Wednesday, November 21, 2012
9:00 AM

A PIECE of William and Kates’s wedding cake has fetched £420 at auction.

Auction of Royal lots at Reeman Dansie, Severalls Business Park, Colchester. Senior auctioneer, James Grinter takes bids for the silver apple given by Princess Diana to her dresser, Fay Appleby, which sold for £3,700.

Colchester auctioneers Reeman Dansie hosted a special Royal sale yesterday where 150 lots went under the hammer.

Around 200 people filled the auction room hoping to take home a piece of Royal history. Items up for sale included three of Queen Victoria’s nightdresses, a pair of George IV’s silk stockings and an array of gifts from Princess Diana to her late dresser Fay Appleby.

The event was an international affair with 300 buyers from as fas as America, the Netherlands and Spain joining in online.

But it was a Clacton buyer who managed to win the piece of wedding cake from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding, while a hand made Christmas card from Prince William fetched £740.

A silver apple – commissioned by Princess Diana to mark her first trip to New York and given to Ms Appleby, who accompanied her – was sold for £3,700.

Another gift from the Princess - a Halcyon Days enamel Easter egg box - was sold for £540.

But a Royal presentation carriage clock was the highest selling item of the day, which was finally sold for £4,900.

Only three out of 150 lots did not sell, inlcuding a Rolls-Royce used by Princess Margaret.

Senior auctioneer James Grinter said: “The auction went very well. I was very pleased - the fact we were only left with three unsold lots was a great result.

“The carriage clock was a pleasant surprise and a lovely Cecil Beaton photograph of the Duchess of Kent was one of my favourites and sold for £520.”

The auction, which lasted two hours, raised a total of £42,500.

Mr Grinter added: “It was all very exciting - you never know where auctions like this will go.”