Rare photos of Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson's wedding sell for more than £11,400

The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson were married in France in 1937. Credit: Bellmans/PA Wire

Rare and previously unseen photographs of the wedding of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson have sold for more than £11,400 at auction.

The 17 black and white images, taken at the remote Chateau de Cande, near Tours, France, on June 3 1937. included pictures of the bride and groom, their wedding guests, the ceremony room with chairs placed ready,and a seven-tier wedding cake.

Edward VIII abdicated the British throne in December 1936 to marry Mrs Simpson. Credit: Bellmans/PA Wire

As the 80th anniversary of the Duke's abdication as King Edward VIII approaches, the images which were expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6,000, were sold to an unnamed absentee bidder.

Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to be with American divorcee Mrs Simpson, leaving his brother, the Duke of York - the Queen's father - to take over as George VI.

The historic event sparked a constitutional crisis and rocked the British monarchy to the core.

Only a select group of guests were invited to the low-key ceremony. Credit: Bellmans/PA Wire

Few guests were invited to the low-key, private nuptials of the former king and the woman for whom he gave up the throne and no members of the Royal Family attended.

The unofficial photographer who took the images was Lady Alexandra Metcalfe, wife of the Duke's best man "Fruity" Metcalfe.

She captured the event on a "rogue camera" and later presented special sets to the guests who attended the ceremony.