Royal baby racket?
Yesterday Britain welcomed Prince William and wife Kate's first child, the prince of Cambridge. As the third in line for the British throne, the child鈥檚 birth is reason for many to celebrate 鈥� and to rake in the cash.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced last month that they , thereby giving royal consent to a veritable torrent of kitschy souvenirs flooding Britain鈥檚 market, according to The Washington Post.
The British economy is about to undergo a royal baby boom. As 海角大神 reports:
The queen鈥檚 loyal subjects will spend approximately聽 拢243 million (or $372.6 million) celebrating the prince鈥檚 birth, according to the UK-based firm Centre for Retail Research (CRR). That estimate includes 拢87 million on celebrations and party supplies, 拢80 million on merchandise like souvenirs and toys, and 拢76 million on media including books, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers.
Some of the royal baby memorabilia is quite tame, such as , complete with the image of a crowned teddy bear (sorry, it's sold out now). Other products, however, test the limits of tactfulness. Take the for example, designed by British artist Lydia Leith.
And it鈥檚 not only the commoner businesses who are getting in on the royal baby racket; the royal family is poised to make a pretty penny from the newborn鈥檚 arrival. As the Mirror reports, the royal family to celebrate the royal couple鈥檚 first child. This will be the first time that the Royal Collection Trust, the charitable organization which manages the monarchy's art collection and oversees its official memorabilia line, will be releasing baby items as souvenirs. And considering that the family sold 拢5 million ($7.67 million) worth of royal wedding souvenirs, it looks as though the royal baby will quite profitable.
