A delicious cake is key for any birthday, but when it is your 500th, it is time to pull out all the stops.

Hampton Court Palace commissioned a cake fit for a king ahead of its milestone birthday this week and Henry VIII could not wait to grab a slice.

The 3ft masterpiece, inspired by half a millennium of the palace's history, was created by world famous cake makers, Choccywoccydoodah.

Each of the five tiers of the cake represents a century of the palace's history, featuring Henry VIII's crown, architectural features from a Georgian prince's bedroom and portrait of the Tudor king.

The cake, hand carved from chocolate, was shared with palace workers, including gardeners, curators, conservators and volunteers, on the palace's official birthday on Thursday, February 12.