The country is celebrating the coronation of King Charles III in just 13 days – by flying the royal flag and rejoicing by raising a glass or two of bubbly at street parties across the country.
To mark the occasion, we will spend £300 million on patriotic cups, tea towels, spoons and other keepsakes, but can we make money from these purchases?
GET A PERSONAL PIECE OF HISTORY
The vast majority of coronation memorabilia will be pretty worthless, but practical items related to the day’s events can be worth a small fortune.
You’re unlikely to be one of the lucky 2,000 invitees, but if you come across one of the beautiful invitations illustrated by Andrew Jamieson, you’re in luck.
Once the event is over, samples will likely sell for four figures on popular trading websites.
Signed and sealed: An autographed photo of the Princess of Wales can fetch £1,450, but one signed by Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex is worth just £160
Adrian Roose is the founder of The Memorabilia Club, a website specializing in historical items. He says, “If you’re one of the lucky few invited to the party, grab whatever you can get your hands on—the invitation, menus, napkins—because those can be in huge demand later on.”
You are only limited by your imagination. For example, a piece of wedding cake from Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ wedding in 2005 is now selling for at least £1,250.
Roose says, “Who knows what a piece of ‘Coronation quiche’ popped into the bag after the main event of the banquet might do if you freeze it in a Tupperware box?”
He suggests that Royal investors log onto websites like eBay the next day — or just a few hours after the event — to buy items at bargain prices before Royal fever sets in and prices soar.
ORIGIN IS THE KEY TO WEALTH
Getting your hands on something personal that one of the Royals has owned, touched or signed – and that is related to the coronation – is another way to make money. An autographed photograph of King Charles III can now change hands for £2,000 – with the value of his autograph nearly doubling since his mother’s death last year.
Join the program: The official coronation program can be a valuable memento
While items with Queen Camilla’s signature are also at an all-time high of £1,100, a lack of demand for photos signed by Meghan Markle has reduced their value to just £160. But an autographed photo of sister-in-law Kate now costs £1,450.
If the autographed photo has a coronation background, its value will only increase.
Interest in King Charles III’s artwork has also increased since he inherited the crown. A signed limited edition lithograph of Balmoral Castle, painted by the Prince in 2001, sold for £5,738 last October. A similar print cost £270 in 2017.
Provenance is key and there should be some proof that the item you are purchasing is genuine and not a fake. A certificate of authenticity with proof must be part of a sale.
DON’T BE A MUG WITH POTTERY
Ann Parker, an antiques dealer from Hungerford, Berkshire, says royal aficionados should be aware that collecting can be fun, but not always a great way to make a profit.
She says, “Behind all the colorful garlands, festive pottery, and trinkets, you might find a strange hidden gem that makes money – but most of it is only good to collect dust.”
Earlier this month, the Royal Collection Trust issued an official set of commemorative coins – selling a 22k gold bone china cup and saucer for £75 and mugs for £30.
Parker admires their visual appeal, but believes their hefty price tag doesn’t mean they automatically increase in value.
She says, “Most pieces are mass-produced, so watch out for strictly limited editions if you want items to go up in price.”
Food for thought: The ‘Coronation quiche’ has received the seal of approval from Prue Leith
For example, only one thousand £195 Royal Collection Trust limited edition plates have been made – and they are already sold out.
They are now on sale on eBay for £850.
Says Parker, “Historically, it’s the finest china manufacturers that make regal collectibles that increase in value.” She adds, “Mugs have the most aesthetic appeal and this adds to their investor appeal. I am a fan of loving cups. They have two handles, are elegant, but fragile.’
A Royal Crown Derby King Charles III Coronation Loving Cup, priced at £215, is now sold out – and could now be worth at least £300. A newly released Wedgwood King Charles Coronation Mug Limited Edition, priced at £130, is also sold out.
As a barometer of where prices might go, a 1937 Royal Doulton King George VI Loving Cup is now selling for £1,100.
LOOK FOR SOUVENIRS WITH DIFFERENCES
Unexpected historical events add to investor appeal. So keep an eye out for memorabilia featuring Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle commemorating the occasion at Westminster Abbey – on everything from fridge magnets to T-shirts.
Since the couple was invited in early March but didn’t officially reply until the April deadline passed, souvenir manufacturers didn’t know she wouldn’t be attending. Roose, of The Memorabilia Club, says: ‘There’s something about Meghan that is causing controversy – and you never know what could happen to memorabilia values when her actions have a dramatic effect on the royal family.
Cup Winner: The Royal Crown Derby King Charles III Loving Cup is already sold out and could be worth £300
The briefcase she once modeled as a game show hostess on US TV quiz Deal or No Deal recently cost £5,000. So any items related to the coronation with hair in it could soon be worth a fortune.”
‘Thank God Meghan’s not coming’ mugs sell for just £16 – but they’d rise in value if she suddenly showed up. Edward VIII abdicated in late 1936, just five months before he was to be crowned, to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. A 1937 Paragon China King Edward VIII Coronation Loving Cup can be bought for £100 – as many were made before the abdication was announced. If mugs have an ‘abdication’ sign etched on them, they can be double the price.
A 1902 coronation mug for Edward VII with the August coronation date on it is worth more than twice the £50 you might pay for a June-marked Royal Doulton cup – the date originally planned for the coronation. The coronation was postponed when the king suffered from appendicitis.
Says Parker, “If there’s a problem with the upcoming coronation — perhaps if it’s postponed for some unexpected reason — it will affect prices.” Investors should look for hastily produced replacements instead of the original mass-produced pieces.”
Errors also add to an item’s value. For example, an early coronation carriage made by toymaker Lesney Products for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II incorrectly came with king and queen. They now change hands for £1,000.
Wanted: The official coronation invitations, designed by artist Andrew Jamieson, are likely to fetch four-figure sums
…BUT BEWARE OF FANTASTIC PACKAGING
One of the great appeals of royal memorabilia is its historical significance. They can be traced back to our king’s namesake, King Charles II, who was crowned in 1661 – after a decade of Puritan leadership under Parliamentarian Oliver Cromwell. Examples of King Charles II commemorative plaques sell for £105,000.
Profit on a Plate: The limited edition Coronation plates cost £195 but are already selling on eBay for £850
But it wasn’t until Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838 that the modern world of royal collectibles took off, and a Staffordshire Coronation mug from this era can retail for £800.
The artist Eric Ravilious is the most sought after name in 20th century royal mugs. His style of art was so popular that, although killed off during the Second World War, his designs continued to be copied for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – and these cups can retail for £250. Ravilious Wedgwood mugs made to commemorate the coronation of King George VI in 1937 can fetch £800.
Coronation coins also attract interest, but unfortunately with modern money you usually pay too much for something with a lower intrinsic value.
For example, The Royal Mint is rolling out the red carpet with a whole series of Coronation coins that will be launched tomorrow. They contain a 50 pence piece and a £5 coin.
Missing: Memorabilia experts say the value of this £16 mug could go up
But despite only ‘limited numbers’ being produced, they will not be worth more than their face value.
A gold royal sovereign will also be issued to mark the day. Although it has a face value of £1, the future trading price will be determined by the value of gold.
Weighing in at 0.235 troy ounces, this means the true value of the coin will be around £400 – significantly less than the price The Royal Mint is expected to seek.
PS What if Meghan DID finally come…
Memorabilia experts say the value of this £16 mug featuring the “Thank God Meghan is NOT coming” jokes could go up.
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