Comic Relief – According to illustrator Mike Collins, Kate & William: A Very Public Love Story, follows a long tradition of “comics for girls in which the girl dreams of meeting someone famous and falling in love.”
In Sickness & In Health – On a less adorable note, British graphic designer Lydia Leith designed souvenir sick bags as a humorous representation of royal wedding overkill. The paper bags, which are selling for £3, show the words “Throne Up” above an illustration of Prince William and his fiancee.
Nailing It: Nail care company Butter London gave a nod to the tabloids by releasing a glittery, mauve-lavendar nail polish called “No More Waity, Katie,” which pokes fun at Kate’s perseverance in waiting for William’s proposal.
Raise Your Glass - The fine people at Castle Rock Brewery, the largest in Nottingham, have come up with a special “Kiss Me Kate” beer to celebrate the occasion. They began serving their concoction a month before the couple’s wedding date and the beer is “British to the core” — no imported hops or barley allowed.
That’s A Wrap - Heritage Condoms created their aptly-named line of “Crown Jewels” condoms to celebrate the happy occasion. “Combining the strength of a Prince with the yielding sensitivity of a Princess-to-be, Crown Jewels condoms promise a royal union of pleasure,” the company says. Though, the packaging warns, “Crown Jewels Royal Wedding Souvenir Condoms are not suitable for contraception or protection against STDs.”
Bear With Us - The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain company has released a limited edition of 250 bear figurines created in the likenesses of William and Kate. The William bear is dressed in a blue waist coast and a jacket featuring the letter “C” (for Catherine, Kate’s full name), while the Kate bear wears a tiara and a dress with the letter “W” printed on her bodice.
Royally Awesome - Upon hearing of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement, scores of retailers scrambled to produce royal wedding memorabilia, items that will inevitably sell for thousands of dollars on eBay one day. Here’s our roundup of the most sentimental, strange and comically inappropriate commemorative pieces.
Gnome Sweet Gnome – As kitschy as royal wedding gnomes sound, we’re relieved that their creators refrained from designing them in the likeness of the bride and groom. Instead, they’ve decked the conventional pair of male and female gnomes in wedding gear and hats printed with the Union Jack. B&Q, who also manufactured football gnomes for the 2010 World Cup, are selling the gnomes for £20 a pair.
VIA
