The large piece of cake includes a royal coat of arms made from gold, red, blue and silver sugar. It was given to Moya Smith, who worked for the royal family. She preserved it with plastic wrap and dated it July 29, 1981.    

A number of people from around the world tried to buy the piece of cake, which was sold on August 11 to Gerry Layton from Leeds, England. He paid a lot more than the expected price of between $400 and $700.  

Layton said he would add the piece of cake to his collection and use it to help charities, to which he plans to give everything he owns when he dies. He also said that he might put it up as the prize for a raffle, with some of the money going to the charity Centrepoint, which Princess Diana had supported.

Chris Albury, of Dominic Winter Auctioneers, said he was amazed at the number of people who were interested in buying the cake. Most were from the UK, US and the Middle East, he said.  

Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. More than 20 wedding cakes were made for the occasion by several companies. Charles and Diana separated 11 years later in 1992, and ended their marriage in 1996. Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997.