Royal China for the Royal Baby Available for Purchase

The official trust of the royal family has released a set of china commemorating the new son of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Royal Collection Trust presented the official range of china Wednesday and has made it available for preorder. The items are decorated with scrolls incorporating the name and birth date of their son (who has reportedly been given the title of Prince of Cambridge), with the lion and unicorn from the Royal Arms supporting the coronet of the duke and duchess of Cambridge, surrounded by oak leaves from the Middleton coat of arms.

The four-piece set was be made in Stoke-on-Trent, a pottery center in Staffordshire, England, by the same potteries that produced the official china celebrating the marriage of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, and marking The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the 60th anniversary of the Coronation this year. Using methods and techniques that have remained unchanged for 250 years, every item is hand-made from fine bone china and gilded in 22K gold before being gift-wrapped in tissue paper and boxes designed for the occasion.

The items include a pillbox for 30 British pounds ($46), a small loving cup for 39 pounds ($60), a dessert plate for 45 pounds ($70) and a limited-edition loving cup for 195 pounds ($300), of which 2,013 will be produced. Three of the items are pictured above.

All profits from the sale of the china are dedicated to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. It is held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the nation. It is not owned by her as a private individual. The aim of The Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, which receives no public funding, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programs.

“The range is contemporary in style, while maintaining the traditional formality of royal commemorative china,” said Nuala McGourty, Royal Collection Trust’s retail director. “The design also makes reference to the heritage of both parents.

The china can be preordered online by following this link.  

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Queen Elizabeth Displays her Diamond Jubilee Jewelry

Britain's Royal Family released an official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth adorned with jewelry from The Royal Collection in honor of her 60th anniversary as Britain’s Monarch.

The Queen is wearing the State Diadem (crown), a circlet of diamonds, created in 1820. She wears this during the procession to and from the State Opening of Parliament, and she wore it on her Coronation Day, for the procession to Westminster Abbey.

The Queen is also wearing Queen Victoria’s Collet Necklace which has been worn by five generations of Royal Ladies (Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and the present Queen). Queen Victoria (The Queen’s great-great grandmother) wore this necklace for her own official Diamond Jubilee photograph, issued in 1897.

On the blue Garter Riband (or sash) The Queen is wearing the Royal Family Orders of her grandfather, King George V, and father, King George VI.

Her dress is made of white silk, satin and lace with silver colored sequins. The dress has a flowing scalloped edge, and was created in Buckingham Palace by Miss Angela Kelly. In the background is the Queen Victoria Memorial.

The portrait was taken by John Swannell in the Centre Room in Buckingham Palace in December 2011. It is one of two commissioned Diamond Jubilee photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh that were released Sunday.

“This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of photographing Her Majesty, and I always find these events very exciting,” Swannell said. “The Queen and Prince Philip, I thought, were patient and very relaxed on the day, which I hope is reflected in the photographs.”

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne of Great Britain on Feb. 6, 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI. She is only the second monarch to celebrate diamond jubilee of her reign.

Queen Elizabeth to celebrate Diamond Jubilee with Diamond Exhibition

The miniature crown worn by Queen Victoria for her official diamond jubilee portrait in 1897.

For those of you still brimming with joy from the pomp and majesty of the royal wedding there will be another royal celebration next year.

In February 2012, Queen Elizabeth II will become only the second sovereign in British history to have reigned for 60 years. To mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace will host an exhibit of the many ways in which diamonds have been used and worn by British monarchs over the past two centuries. The exhibition includes an unprecedented display of a number of the queen’s personal jewels—either inherited or acquired during her reign.