The wedding of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, captivated the world in 2011, and now royal fans have the opportunity to own a piece of history from their special day. A menu from their wedding breakfast is set to go up for auction along with an extraordinary collection of royal memorabilia spanning almost 200 years.
The wedding breakfast menu shows that their guests sat down to an extravagant three-course meal including a main course of organic lamb with Highgrove spring vegetables, English asparagus and Jersey Royal potatoes.
Duchess Kate and Prince William's wedding menu will go up for auction. © John Rowley
Additional items from the couple's wedding to go under the hammer include two ceremonials, an order of service and invitations to the service at Westminster Abbey.
The collection also includes never-before-seen memorabilia such as letters and telegrams written and received by British Royals, plus Christmas cards containing photos of Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their children Prince William and Prince Harry.
The auction will also include two ceremonials, invitations and the order of service
Fans will no doubt be interested in a black and white portrait photograph of Princess Diana, signed "Diana 1993". The portrait is presented in a silver frame with an engraved D and crown detail – it is expected to sell for between £3,000 and £3,500.
The auction also includes two handwritten letters Princess Diana sent to her friend John Gairdner, thanking him for sending her "gorgeous flowers" to Highgrove and Kensington Palace for her birthdays in 1998 and 1990.
The extensive collection was amassed by Devonshire royal 'ephemera expert' Jim Hanson, and will go on sale at Reeman Dansie's Royal memorabilia sale in Colchester on 17 February.
A signed portrait of Princess Diana is included in the auction
Auctioneer James Grinter described Jim Hanson as an "extraordinary collector", and explained that he turned his attention to royal memorabilia in his later years before his death.
The auctioneer also explained how "remarkable" the collection is.
"It is very rare to find such a remarkable royal collection as this," he said. "It spans 200 years from Queen Victoria, through King Edward VII, King George V, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, King George VI and the Queen Mother and our current Queen.
"The breadth, quality and condition of the individual items is amazing."
