Queen’s hampers sold on eBay.. .for £200
PICNIC baskets given to members of the public and charities attending the Queen’s birthday street party on Sunday are already being sold on eBay for more than £200.
The online marketplace also has an exclusive Order of Service for Friday’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral up for grabs for £62.
They were given only to specially invited guests and dignitaries with personal links to the monarch. The seller, known only as dkr-2007, boasts it is an ‘original from the service’ and in ‘perfect condition’.
Buckingham Palace is resigned to seeing memorabilia sold off in this way but it will come as a surprise that someone invited to such a significant event is cashing in.
More than a dozen items from the £150-a-head Patron’s Lunch, Sun- day’s street party attended by the Queen, are also being sold. At least two of the luxury hampers provided by Marks & Spencer given to each guest (minus the perishables) were already attracting bids of more than £200. A seller called jsco 4950 boasts how their ‘Special Limited Edition’ picnic hamper comes with co-memorative plastic glass, plastic cutlery and branded hand wipes. ‘This is a great opportunity to own a piece of history!’ gushes the listing.
Another seller, morfie 62, points out their hamper ‘did not get wet on the day as it was kept in a plastic cover which I took’. A third lot on eBay listed by a user called Secure1966 includes the napkin, cutlery and ice packs. It states: ‘The hamper also includes a menu card and linen bag with logo, containing unopened plate, fabric embroidered napkin, unopened cutlery and a plastic wing beaker.
‘As an added bonus, I will include the PG Tips porcelain cup and saucer set, which is limited edition and made for the Patron’s Lunch.’
Others are selling the plastic ponchos handed out because of the rain, with one attracting astonishing bids of £20. A programme given out free costs £8 while a commemorative cup and saucer given to all those who attended by sponsor PG Tips has attracted bids of £77.
The seller snowy guider 100 has attracted bids of up to £10 for an embroidered badge given to Girl Guides for taking part.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.