Charlotte is now the queen bee of royal memorabilia

LONDON: Princess Charlotte may only be a few days old, but her arrival has already sparked the sort of financial discussions usually reserved for the launch of a new bank.

It has been estimated by the Centre for Retail Research that the royal birth could spark spending of about £80 million (R1.4bn).

Research from the centre found that 15% of people had made plans to celebrate the royal birth, including spending about £27m on keepsakes like coins, teapots and mugs in the first two months of Princess Charlotte’s life. And, although she is just eight days old, there has been a flood of memorabilia, from china rocking horses to customised teabags.

Many people buy these items to show their support for the royals, but some will hope these are collectables that will pay off in the future.

But James Grinter, the managing director at the auctioneer, Reeman Dansie, says such purchases are not likely to accrue in value. “History has shown that mass production of items brings minimum value in the long term.”

That’s not to say there is no market for royal memorabilia; Reeman Dansie often auctions royal collectables. But Grinter explains, rarity is important in pushing up the price: “Given that Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for so long, her Christmas cards are fairly common and therefore do not command the same price as ones from Princess Diana.

“A Christmas card from Princess Diana would fetch approximately £300 to £500, while a card from the queen would achieve approximately £70.”

Fashion can also play a role, and commemorative china has fallen in popularity and price in recent years. – The Independent