A Tribute Website Inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales
I only have two pieces of royal wedding china, purchased off of Ebay in the early 2000s. They aren’t special, or of particularly good quality – just a simple plate and a bell with the faces of Charles and Diana and the wedding date. If I wanted more, it would be super easy to do a quick online search and find dozens for sale. But I have questions. The Wedding of the Century was 45 years ago – where is it all coming from? Are there underground dinnerware sweatshops cranking it out because the market for it never dries up? Are there boxes in warehouses that workers just keep unpacking? IDK. It’s a mystery.
The sheer volume of stuff on the market today is insane. There are thimbles, beakers, teapots, trinket boxes, and platters ready for overnight shipping from two different continents. Throw in some Jasperware and spoons, and the re-sale party never ends. The Big Six English ceramic manufacturers (Aynsley, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Crown Trent Staffordshire, Duchess China, and Wedgewood) and all the other little ceramic guys produced so many pieces because everybody wanted a tangible memory of the big day. They all had to use the same two released portraits of Diana and Charles on all of that memorabilia, including the infamous tea towels, so it is difficult to discern one company from another. So no matter what second hand online retailer you happen to shop on, there will always be dozens of products on offer.
But how do you know which one to buy? You don’t, unless you are a serious connoisseur of royal souvenir bone china and know exactly which numbered teacup you are trying to hunt down in Covent Garden or on Portobello Road. The best thing to do is browse until you find a pattern or color combination that you prefer, and just go with that one. The price points tend to go up and down, so if you are on a site that accepts bids, do not be afraid to offer a lower amount for instant purchase. Most of the time, your offer will be accepted.
No matter what you choose to buy, enjoy it. We all know that the fairy tale wedding did not end well, but on that beautiful day on July 29, 1981, crumpled dress and all, Diana was a gorgeous teenage bride. Display your Princess of Wales collection of items with pride because we know that we will never forget her.
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Thank you so much! I appreciate all of you!
XoXo Stephanie