£195 for a mug! Official china range to celebrate the birth of baby Cambridge is released… but each piece costs a princely sum
- Official range of plates and mugs released today by Royal Collection Trust
- Prices go as high as £195 for a ‘limited edition loving cup‘
- Highgrove also released commemorative souvenir within two days of birth
- £250million could be spent on royal baby memorabilia in Britain alone
By Hugo Gye and Steve Nolan Daily Mail PUBLISHED: 24 July 2013
Within hours of the Duchess of Cambridge giving birth to a future king, unofficial merchandise vendors were cashing in on the new royal arrival with a wide range of celebratory memorabilia.
And now – just two days after the birth – the Royal Family itself has joined in by announced the release of official commemorative china and other products timed to coincide with the new prince.
However, well-wishers looking to celebrate the historic occasion may find themselves priced out of the merchandise range – with the official products costing as much as £195.
The Royal Collection Trust has released a variety of porcelain objects, including a plate, mug and pillbox, as well as Christmas tree decorations in the shape of prams.
Pricey: This official collection of royal memorabilia costs £195 for a loving cup; £45 for a dessert plate; and £30 for a pillboxThe cheapest item, a tea towel, is only £8.95, but when it comes to the china the prices start rising steeply.
A light blue mug costs £20, a pillbox is £30 and those wishing to eat their dessert off a commemorative plate must shell out £45.
However, the priciest object in the collection is a hand-finished ‘limited edition loving cup’, of which only 2,013 will ever be made, which costs £195.
Another limited edition royal product is a 10″ teddy bear, retailing on the trust’s website for £95.
Each piece of china will be made in Stoke-on-Trent by the same potteries that produced the official range to celebrate William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
An official commemorative pillbox to celebrate the special day is priced at £30
The priciest object in the collection is a hand-finished ‘limited edition loving cup’, of which only 2,013 will ever be made, which costs £195
Each piece of china- like this £45 dessert plate- will be made in Stoke-on-Trent by the same potteries that produced the official range to celebrate William and Kate’s wedding
The Royal Collection Trust has released a variety of porcelain objects, including a plate, mug and pillbox, as well as Christmas tree decorations in the shape of prams (L) £15.95 (R) £12.95
The cheapest item, a tea towel, is only £8.95, but when it comes to the china the prices start rising steeply
A limited edition royal product is a 10″ teddy bear, retailing for £95
Well-wishers looking to celebrate the historic occasion may find themselves priced out of the merchandise range – with the official products costing as much as £195 for this mugBOOST FOR FAMILY FIRM AFTER ROYAL BABY IS SWADDLED IN THEIR SHAWL
By REBECCA ENGLISH, Royal Correspondent
A small family firm in Nottinghamshire has had an ‘unprecedented’ run of orders after the Duke and Duchess chose to swaddle their newborn son in one of their christening shawls.
GH Hurt and Son Ltd, which has a long-standing connection with the Royal Family, sent the couple one of their £45 fine Merino shawls, identical to one William used when he was a baby.
Since Kensington Palace made the news public, the company has been inundated with enquiries and orders, the likes of which they have never been seen before.
Shawl: The new royal baby was yesterday wrapped in a woollen shawl made by GH Hurt and Son LtdGillian Taylor, director of the firm, which celebrated its centenary last year and still used centuries-old traditional menthods, said: ‘We were so delighted the Royal couple emerged from St Mary’s Hospital with their newborn son wrapped in one of our traditional hand finished shawls.
‘A similar shawl was used for HRH Prince William in 1982. Our shawls have also been previously used by other members of the Royal Family. We feel honoured.’
A company source said: ‘The phone has been ringing off the hook and we have been taking more online orders than we have ever seen before. We had no idea what they were going to use it until we saw the television footage ourselves. We were dancing with joy.’
Workers are waiting until the royal baby is named before they go into full production as they need to add the moniker to the pieces.
The fine bone china range has a pale blue and 22-carat gold colour scheme and will feature a lion and unicorn, heraldic animals from the royal coat of arms, supporting the Cambridge’s coronet surrounded by oak leaves from the Middleton’s family crest.
Scrolls will incorporate the name and birth date of the baby prince.
All profits from the sale of the china are dedicated to the Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity.
Next month the Trust will publish The Royal Baby Book: A Souvenir Album, which will tell the story of the birth and early childhood of past and future heirs to the throne, from Queen Victoria to William.
For baby: This £215 Coronation Baby Hamper is one of the ‘gifts for children’ released by Highgrove, the Prince of Wales’s country residence
Teddy boy: Highgrove’s £65 bear, made with antique gold mohair and embroidered with gold thread
Unhampered joy: A limited edition £195 hamper box packed with Highgrove’s organic bath and body products (and the teddy)
Walk in his shoes: Made from soft leather, Highgrove’s £22.50 baby shoes are the perfect commemorative gift
Lego king: A Lego model of William, Kate and their new baby Prince which has been created by experts Caroline and Nick Savage. The couple created their own business making the bespoke Lego figures two years ago
‘Long live gran’: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their newborn baby boy immortalised in Lego
Terrible: A knitted William, Kate and royal baby set which is on sale on eBay as online retailers try and cash in on the royal birth
Hand knitted royal scene: Prince William and Kate clutch a very large child as they stand with the Queen in this royal product on sale on eBayAnother official body which was quick off the mark with its merchandise range was Highgrove, the Prince of Wales’s country residence.
The stately home announced this morning that it was launching a selection of ‘gifts for children’, including a £65 teddy bear.
Its most expensive product is also £195 – a ‘baby organic hamper’ featuring the teddy as well as five body products such as flower water and massage oil.
Profits from the Highgrove shop go to charitable causes championed by Charles.
The unofficial memorabilia ranged from Lego versions of the royal baby through to gold easels for parents to announce their new child Windsor-style.
This royal baby dummy has gone on sale online for £10.95
Keeping royal toes toasty: These sheepskin boots marking the royal birth will set you back £40. They are on sale at http://www.my1styears.com
Refit your phone: A royal baby iPhone cover which has gone on sale on zazzle.com
Too far? A royal baby sick bag in pink is launched for those who have had enough of news about the birthAnalysts predict that nearly £250million could be spent on royal baby related souvenirs over coming days. The wider boost to the economy could be worth as much as £500million.
Souvenirs, memorabilia and food and drink will sell on the back of the royal birth immediately – while in the longer-term royal themed pushchairs and clothing will make millions, according to valuation experts Brand Finance.
The new baby’s midas touch will supplement the Royal family’s annual contribution to the British economy which Brand Finance estimates to stand at £1.5billion so far this year alone.
The firm says the new baby will swell the coffers and enhance the assets of the family as a whole, including Crown Estate and Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster, which stands at £53.6billion.
Royal theme: A baby outfit which has gone on sale for £14 on cafepress.co.uk
Tacky: Royal baby themed baby grow and dressing gown which have gone on sale for £20 each at littledelivery.com
Regal: You can also buy a gold easel if you wish to announce the birth of your child like the royals, or buy a cot fit for a princess for £12,500
The most desirable pieces are likely to be the ceramic cups, dishes and bowls which will vary from the cheap and cheerful to gold leaf-covered fine bone china creations costing hundreds of pounds.
Stoke-on-Trent, the home of England’s pottery industry, was a hive of activity as companies geared up for the birth.
Designs have been drawn up and potters are waiting for the moment William and Kate’s baby is named.
Dr Laura Cohen, chief executive of the British Ceramic Confederation, highlighted how foreign collectors, especially from countries such as America and Japan, prize items from the UK.
Memorabilia includes this £13.50 bib which says ‘I love my Auntie Pippa’
‘Royal’ collection: Baby items from the Highgrove shop which pays its profits to Prince Charles’ charitable foundation
Tacky: A knitted baby outfit which has gone on same on eBay – it consists of a romper suit, hat and shoes
Money maker? Harrods launch a £20 royal mug to mark the birth of William and Kate’s first child – before the name of the boy is even known
Would you drink out of this? A slightly terrifying picture of an infant king on this hastily put together mug to mark the royal birth. It is on sale on eBayShe said: ‘This will be a welcome boost for UK tableware and giftware manufacturers, generating significant sales for many companies in the UK and overseas.
‘UK manufacturers are uniquely placed to commence manufacturing as soon as the baby’s name is announced and so respond rapidly to orders.
‘Many customers value the “Made in England” backstamp on cherished family items such as these marking royal occasions.’
Chocolate cot: A tribute cradle which has been made by choclatiers at Cadbury to mark the royal birth yesterday
Big seller? Special edition Love Hearts sweets which say simply ‘royal baby’ which have been made at the Swizzels Matlow factory in New Mills, Derbyshire
Royal souvenirs: Cups to mark the birth of the royal baby which had gone on sale in central London almost two weeks in advance of the birth
Commemorative plate: A souvenir which is on sale in central London. The market for royal baby memorabilia could be worth an estimated £250million
Souvenirs: Key rings which have gone on sale in stores in central London to mark the royal birth
Finishing touches: Hand-painted teddy bears which are part of the Royal Crown Derby’s Royal Birth collection which will go on sale within days. Staff worked through the night on the products
Royal baby toy: Early Learning Centre staff up and down the country were busy stocking 50,000 limited edition Happyland Royal baby sets
WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE BABY MONITOR INVENTED FOR ROYAL BIRTH
Pricey: World’s most expensive baby monitor which costs £35,000This really is the king of baby gadgets… The world’s most expensive baby monitor has been invented in time for the new royal arrival.
Engineers at French electronics specialists Withings have spent two months designing a bespoke 24 carat gold gadget, worth £35,000, for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
With an in-built high definition camera, night-vision, and alerts that monitor noise, motion, temperature and humidity, the device will keep Kate and Wills close – even if they’re in the other side of Kensington Palace.
The first-time parents have been sent the state-of-the-art gadget to their Berkshire manor, which will transmit video of their son direct to their smart phones – no matter how far away they are.
The couple will also be able to interact with him, and control the lighting and temperature from a distance.
Baby boom: Pregnant women can celebrate their own ‘future princess’ with this maternity top from Mothercare, left, while those not expecting can also get in on the act with this T-shirt celebrating the royal birth from zazzle.co.uk
Cashing in? A ‘royal’ potty from Fisher Price and a dummy and clip by Elodie Details featuring crowns
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376617/Royal-baby-Official-china-range-celebrate-birth-released.html#ixzz2a30sL1DI
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