Rare French champagne from Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding to go to auction

An extremely rare magnum of Dom Pérignon Vintage 1961 produced exclusively for the wedding of the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and Lady Diana Spencer will go under the hammer with an estimated value of €67,000–€80,000.

The bottle was created as a limited-edition cuvée for the royal couple’s July 29, 1981 ceremony. It will be offered by Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen on December 11. 

The champagne was served at the wedding reception at Buckingham Palace following the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, an event widely described as the “Wedding of the Century”.

Dom Pérignon is one of the most prestigious champagne brands in a sector France takes extremely seriously. 

Earlier this year, a winemaker was jailed for selling fake ‘champagne’ made from Spanish wine and using artificial chemical production.

Champagne even appears on some French hospital menus.

‘Unique piece of cultural history’

Thomas Rosendahl, head of Bruun Rasmussen’s wine department, said the bottle is among the rarest to appear on the market.

“Vintage 1961 is one of Dom Pérignon’s most coveted vintages. This special edition was produced in extremely limited numbers and only for the official festivities and select guests of the royal wedding,” he said. 

“It represents not only an exceptional champagne but a unique piece of cultural history. We expect strong international interest from wine collectors and royal memorabilia enthusiasts.”

The magnum was specially disgorged in 1981 and fitted with a bespoke label marking its release for the royal occasion. Few examples have ever been offered at public auction.

The bottle will be on preview in Lyngby, Denmark, from December 4, ahead of the sale, where it will feature in a session dedicated to jewellery, accessories and rare wines. 

It carries an estimate of 500,000–600,000 DKK (€68,000–€80,000).

For more information see the auctioneer’s website.