Page 97 - Designing Ways 258

TAIL OF
THE DOG

Royalty Rules

he Queen is dead. Long Live the Americans paid $500 for the privilege booming. With so much happening
TKing! of a reserved spot on the Royal Mile over the funeral period, it is unlikely
leading to Windsor Caste at Harry that the controlling forces will bother
Rumblings about the monarchy are and Megan’s wedding, just to get to stop any of this activity.
being heard far and wide – some a glimpse of the couple (unkindly
countries wondering if they should still labelled Ginger and Whinger by one A more sombre note was marked by
be members of the commonwealth, Australian news network). Selfridges and Liberty closing their
former colonies demanding back the doors on the day after the Queen’s
jewels raped from their soil, clips The selection of goods for the death was announced, Fortnum and
of the new British Prime Minister in Royal Palace shops has always Mason’s landmark clock was stopped
her student days, denouncing the been carefully controlled, with high and their windows shuttered. Sporting
monarchy. Respect for the late queen quality products commissioned from events were postponed, flags were
and her lifetime of service to people companies with Royal Warrants, lowered nation-wide.
all over the world are quelling these, designed and chosen with care. The
but they may resurface. Royal Collection Trust manages the For me, the superb orchestration of
retail and commercial parameters of British ceremonial events validates
One aspect of royalty that will not be the sales of these goods. every moment spent watching the
side-lined is the huge commercial television, the documentaries that
value of anything pertaining to it as As people queued for hours to walk have been waiting to be aired, the
a brand. Commemorative events are past the Queen’s coffin in Westminster brass bands, the solemnity. The care
opportunities for tourism, and for the Hall, stands were quickly set up along and thought that has gone into every
manufacture of mementos. Tourism, the way by traders, shamelessly detail, has been brilliant. I do not need
even in sad times, is flourishing. selling trinkets to commemorate her a toy corgi, I will be happy with the
People want to see the different royal life (death?) – this is the one end of the visual feast.
palaces, even if it means simply marketing, with flags, keyrings, fridge
standing at the gates and looking magnets, T-shirts and of course the
through the bars. Apparently, some inevitable mugs. Business has been Gill Butler