Collecting William And Kate Royal Wedding Merchandise & Memorabilia
On November 16, 2010, Royal Wedding fever hit, with the announcement that Prince William and Kate Middleton were finally engaged. Prince William, second in line to be King of England and Kate, soon to be Princess Catherine, will marry on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.
The lucky people of England will enjoy a public holiday on this day to celebrate this rare occasion which will be watched the world over. The global interest in this historic event has already seen significant investment by manufacturers of Royal Wedding memorabilia hoping to cash in as enthusiastic royal watchers and fans start collecting their piece of history.
Buckingham Palace has issued rules on what souvenir manufacturers can produce in terms of William and Kate wedding merchandise. Items must be permanent and significant – tea towels, t-shirts and aprons are out, whereas mugs, china plates and biscuit jars are in. While this may be the official rule, manufacturers will still be trying to get in on the act and you can expect to see t-shirts and the like being sold in their thousands but they will not hold any long term value.
If you are looking to collect some Royal wedding memorabilia as an investment you will be well advised to take note of these rules as they will affect the long term value of such items and determine what will become sought after by collectors in the future.
So what William and Kate Royal wedding collectibles are on offer?
China products
The first official souvenirs issued by the Royal Family, available at palaces and online, are bone china mementos. A tankard, plate and pill box are all decorated with the couple’s initials, the Prince’s coronet and wording to commemorate the marriage. They come in a presentation box and should make a solid investment. Unfortunately the faces of the happy couple are not anywhere to be seen which may impact on the desirability of these pieces.
For high quality fine porcelain china commemorative plates and mugs, look no further than the Aynsley collection. This highly sought after 4-piece set includes an engagement plate, loving cup with two handles, tankard mug and coaster. Despite being hand painted, these items are currently very affordable but are likely to rocket in price as the supply dwindles.
Coins
Commemorative coins are another good investment when it comes to Royal wedding memorabilia. They will be embossed with the important dates and will increase in value over the years to come especially if they are made from silver or gold or are part of a limited edition run. The official coin from the Royal Mint features the Prince in profile with Kate looking at him in an informal pose. It also refers to the future Princess as Catherine. It comes in silver and gold options and prices start at £9.99.
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Stamps
Stamps are always popular with collectors and as all Commonwealth countries will issue their own commemorative stamps for the William and Kate wedding there will be plenty to choose from. Why not build a themed collection over the coming years by collecting all related stamps that will no doubt be available to not only commemorate the wedding but also the birth of any children.
Replica jewelry
The Kate Middleton Engagement ring is better known as the Princess Diana engagement ring as Prince William gave his mother’s ring to Kate. This ring is very famous, absolutely beautiful and iconic. It’s large, stunning deep blue oval sapphire is surrounded by small diamonds. You can get your own replica of this highly sought after ring design online to use either as an elegant engagement ring of your own or to dress up that party outfit. And who wouldn’t want their very own part of this modern day fairy tale? Prices vary from under $100 for a sterling silver ring with cubic zirconias to thousands of dollars for a white gold ring with sapphires and diamonds.
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Other William and Kate wedding merchandise
THIMBLES: Commemorative thimbles are something of a tradition dating back over a century. They have collectible value and are available printed with a portrait of William and Kate. Those that are embossed made from precious metals are the ones to look out for.
READING MATERIALS: This is the sort of collection you can accumulate without spending much money. Keep anything you can find in newspapers and magazines about the engagement, wedding and beyond, including photographs, add to it with books and you will have a unique collection which if it is kept in immaculate condition will be of interest to collectors. If you are just looking for a good read on this royal love story, then this book is a good choice.
Please click for current price.
DOLLS: Yes dolls, you will be able to buy dolls of the happy couple, but until the wedding dress is seen on the day any purchased pre-wedding will be speculative. If it is a doll you are after, you are better to wait until after the big day.
DVDs: Similar to the dolls the official DVDs of the wedding will not available until after April 29th.
Tips to build up a valuable Royal memorabilia collection
There have already been crazy ideas for royal wedding memorabilia hitting the market from limited edition beds, to new cocktails and life size cardboard cutouts of William and Kate, but if you want to buy something as an investment here are a few tips:
- Don’t buy anything that is not of a high quality. Inferior products will be on offer for minimal as well as exorbitant prices so make sure you protect your investment by buying from a reputable company.
- Try and acquire an extensive and themed collection.
- Ensure you store your collection well to keep it in mint condition. Keep anything boxed or packaged as is.
- Look out for fine bone china pieces as they hold their value. High quality china as well as hand painted versions are the ones to collect – see the Aynsley collection above.
- Cups and mugs with portraits of Prince William and Princess Catherine are likely to become collectors pieces.
- Commemorative plates are another good option and will be available both before and long after the wedding to mark such events as anniversaries or the birth of their children. Those with portraits of the couple will be the most desirable.
- Portraits are the key to the future popularity of an item.
Overall bear in mind that any real increase in value is not likely to be seen for another 30-40 years so buy for future generations rather than yourself!
