No telling whose mug will be ‘Born to Rule’

IT is a royal bonanza — but for Britain’s souvenir-makers, also a royal headache. The birth of Prince William and his wife Kate’s first child is a golden opportunity that comes with a mystery: the name and gender of the baby.

Merchants have known for months that the future heir to the throne is due in mid-July, but they will be sent into a mad dash to create, or at least put the finishing touches to, royal baby memorabilia.

Sophie Allport, a designer of fine bone china, is one manufacturer waiting for the future monarch’s name to set her plans in motion.

She has thousands of pre-orders for hand-crafted commemorative mugs, but cannot fill them until the baby’s name can be etched on the rims. She is as ready as she can possibly be — having prepared both blue and pink designs, depending on whether it is a prince or princess.

Be it Alexandra, George or Elizabeth, or any of the other names touted as possibilities, workers in Stoke-on-Trent, the centre of Britain’s ceramic industry, will apply Allport’s designs to 10 000 mugs, which will then be fired in kilns and finished with a glaze.

Many designers have left a small gap on their designs for the baby’s name, gender and date of birth. Other manufacturers have taken a different approach, opting for gender-neutral baby-themed merchandise, from “I Love Uncle Harry” baby bibs to “Born to Rule” baby clothes.