King Charles III’s coronation is coming, and fans are gearing up to own exclusive royal collectibles
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King Charles III’s coronation will be held on Saturday, May 6th, in a special ceremony that will be broadcast worldwide.
An event this big usually sees a rush of people wanting to own a piece of royal history, and this time is no different. And while these wonderful collectibles will soon be on shelves, experienced royal collectors have some tips to help you snag a bargain.
As the UK and the Commonwealth realms, including Australia, gear up for Charles’ coronation, demand for royal memorabilia is expected to grow substantially – with some of the items said to be worth thousands of dollars.
While royal mementos have been around since the 17th century, the demand took off in the 1960s when the Royal Family became more visible in the media. And in the lead-up to Charles’ coronation, prices for collectibles have already started to climb.
From coins to plates and spoons to teapots – what should you look out for if you’re a royal collector?
According to Sydney’s Theodore Bruce auction house, items such as an English Delft Charger plate commemorating William III’s 1690 coronation sold in the UK in 2017 for AU $14,582.
A signed photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, gifted to their chauffeur during their 1973 Australian tour, recently fetched thousands of dollars above the estimate.
One royal fan in 2011 paid AU $934 on eBay for a slice of William and Kate’s wedding cake.
Theodore Bruce will hold its own royal memorabilia auction on the day of the coronation itself.
‘The collection features porcelain cups & jugs, commemorative plates, glassware & decorative items marking special events in the history of the British Royal Family, including the coronations of several former kings and queens,’ it said on its website.
It continued: ‘Among the highlights is King George V and Queen Mary Commemorative Coronation Bowl, crafted in 1911 by Shelley, England.’
It's All in the Details
Speaking to reporters following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Casi Prischl, a spokesperson for Theodore Bruce, said items from the late queen’s 1953 coronation tended to be the ‘most valuable’.
‘She had no memorabilia produced before that, unlike, say, Prince Charles, who had more memorabilia made when he was born because they knew he was going to be the King, probably at some stage,’ Ms Prischl explained.
She continued: ‘Whereas with [Elizabeth], there was none of that, really, until she was ten years of age… certainly, I think her [coronation] remains the most popular pieces to collect, and probably the most valuable as well.’
Among the collectibles up for grabs, Ms Prischl said that coins were among the items guaranteed to appreciate in value over time.
‘Both the Australian and British Royal Mint have seen a huge uptick in people wanting to buy coins because obviously, the head on the back of those coins will swap in due course,’ she explained.
From a Collector’s Standpoint
Jan Hugo, Australia’s foremost collector of royal memorabilia, has been collecting items since the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. The collection in her home in Nulkaba, NSW, is said to hold more than 10,000 items.
She is also set to travel to the UK to experience the coronation of Charles first-hand.
‘We've given up counting,’ Jan told reporters before revealing that her 10,000th figure was from a few years ago. Her collection has only grown since then.
She continued: ‘We picked up pieces from antique shops, deceased estates, we bought collections from people who no longer needed them. Lots of China…Most of the cabinets are filled with China, and they look better in the cupboards. Everything from flags, spoons, thimbles…teddy bears and games.’
According to Jan, the first 30 years of collecting ‘were the hardest’ since the internet wasn’t as widespread as it is now.
‘I started to collect back when Diana took up with Prince Charles… Diana was such an amazing person, and once I had this massive cabinet full of Diana and Charles, we needed something for the Queen and then the Queen’s father, and now we have things from 11 different Monarchs and royals,’ she told reporters.
Thanks to the internet’s convenience, she’s managed to expand her collection even more.
‘There is so much of it on the internet…you'll get lots of plates, cups, towels…but you have to have the cheaper items as well,’ Jan admitted before adding that the items endorsed at Buckingham Palace’s Royal Collection shop are generally ‘more sought-after’, but they are the most expensive.
‘You pay $500 for a teapot at the palace, but you can get one for $20 at the corner shop. No one could afford just the official stuff,’ she stated.
But what items are worth the most?
Jan said the most sought-after items are those that have actually been handled by a member of the Royal Family.
‘A lady told me she had a pair of Queen Victoria‘s gloves. Victoria would give her gloves away when she grew tired of them to servants and the like …a hat is something really great to have that was owned by a king or queen,’ Jan explained.
Members, are you excited about the coronation? Do you have any royal memorabilia of your own? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
An event this big usually sees a rush of people wanting to own a piece of royal history, and this time is no different. And while these wonderful collectibles will soon be on shelves, experienced royal collectors have some tips to help you snag a bargain.
As the UK and the Commonwealth realms, including Australia, gear up for Charles’ coronation, demand for royal memorabilia is expected to grow substantially – with some of the items said to be worth thousands of dollars.
While royal mementos have been around since the 17th century, the demand took off in the 1960s when the Royal Family became more visible in the media. And in the lead-up to Charles’ coronation, prices for collectibles have already started to climb.
From coins to plates and spoons to teapots – what should you look out for if you’re a royal collector?
According to Sydney’s Theodore Bruce auction house, items such as an English Delft Charger plate commemorating William III’s 1690 coronation sold in the UK in 2017 for AU $14,582.
Porcelain cups and commemorative plates will be up for grabs soon. Credit: Houses of Parliament Shop
A signed photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, gifted to their chauffeur during their 1973 Australian tour, recently fetched thousands of dollars above the estimate.
One royal fan in 2011 paid AU $934 on eBay for a slice of William and Kate’s wedding cake.
Theodore Bruce will hold its own royal memorabilia auction on the day of the coronation itself.
‘The collection features porcelain cups & jugs, commemorative plates, glassware & decorative items marking special events in the history of the British Royal Family, including the coronations of several former kings and queens,’ it said on its website.
It continued: ‘Among the highlights is King George V and Queen Mary Commemorative Coronation Bowl, crafted in 1911 by Shelley, England.’
It's All in the Details
Speaking to reporters following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Casi Prischl, a spokesperson for Theodore Bruce, said items from the late queen’s 1953 coronation tended to be the ‘most valuable’.
‘She had no memorabilia produced before that, unlike, say, Prince Charles, who had more memorabilia made when he was born because they knew he was going to be the King, probably at some stage,’ Ms Prischl explained.
She continued: ‘Whereas with [Elizabeth], there was none of that, really, until she was ten years of age… certainly, I think her [coronation] remains the most popular pieces to collect, and probably the most valuable as well.’
Anything that a member of the Royal household has handled is highly sought-after. Credit: Houses of Parliament Shop
Among the collectibles up for grabs, Ms Prischl said that coins were among the items guaranteed to appreciate in value over time.
‘Both the Australian and British Royal Mint have seen a huge uptick in people wanting to buy coins because obviously, the head on the back of those coins will swap in due course,’ she explained.
From a Collector’s Standpoint
Jan Hugo, Australia’s foremost collector of royal memorabilia, has been collecting items since the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981. The collection in her home in Nulkaba, NSW, is said to hold more than 10,000 items.
She is also set to travel to the UK to experience the coronation of Charles first-hand.
‘We've given up counting,’ Jan told reporters before revealing that her 10,000th figure was from a few years ago. Her collection has only grown since then.
She continued: ‘We picked up pieces from antique shops, deceased estates, we bought collections from people who no longer needed them. Lots of China…Most of the cabinets are filled with China, and they look better in the cupboards. Everything from flags, spoons, thimbles…teddy bears and games.’
According to Jan, the first 30 years of collecting ‘were the hardest’ since the internet wasn’t as widespread as it is now.
‘I started to collect back when Diana took up with Prince Charles… Diana was such an amazing person, and once I had this massive cabinet full of Diana and Charles, we needed something for the Queen and then the Queen’s father, and now we have things from 11 different Monarchs and royals,’ she told reporters.
Thanks to the internet’s convenience, she’s managed to expand her collection even more.
‘There is so much of it on the internet…you'll get lots of plates, cups, towels…but you have to have the cheaper items as well,’ Jan admitted before adding that the items endorsed at Buckingham Palace’s Royal Collection shop are generally ‘more sought-after’, but they are the most expensive.
‘You pay $500 for a teapot at the palace, but you can get one for $20 at the corner shop. No one could afford just the official stuff,’ she stated.
But what items are worth the most?
Jan said the most sought-after items are those that have actually been handled by a member of the Royal Family.
‘A lady told me she had a pair of Queen Victoria‘s gloves. Victoria would give her gloves away when she grew tired of them to servants and the like …a hat is something really great to have that was owned by a king or queen,’ Jan explained.
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