For people still reeling from the ravages of World War II, who hadn't seen an iced cake in years, it was the stuff of dreams.
The four-tier wedding cake of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten stood 2.7 metres high, weighed 220 kilograms and was decorated with ornate scenes from the future Queen's life.
After Prince Philip cut the alcohol-laced fruitcake with his sword, an entire layer was sent to Australia.