Mattel’s £94.99 Platinum Jubilee Queen Barbie has been whipped up for a whopping £800 on eBay weeks after the toy debuted in UK stores.
US toy maker Mattel unveiled a limited edition figure of Her Majesty last month to celebrate the monarch’s impressive 70-year reign, predicting the toy will become a lucrative piece of royal memory.
After being listed by John Lewis for £94.99, the Barbie was reportedly sold out in seconds, and the sought-after collector’s item has since become the subject of fierce eBay offers.
Desperate buyers are eager to get the piece for Barbie with an offer of £800, while some sellers are triple the doll’s price.
Shoppers love the platinum Jubilee Queen Barbie doll – the doll sells out within three seconds of hitting shelves
Many are offering one of Mattel’s special platinum anniversary dolls for around £200, while others are showing price tags of over £700.
Meanwhile, John Lewis reported this week that the doll was out of stock in just three seconds.
Based on a portrait commissioned to celebrate her 60th year on the throne in 2012, Barbie shows Her Majesty in an elegant ivory dress and delicately embellished blue ribbon.
Her tiara is based on the tasseled tiara that Queen Mary famously wore by the monarch on her wedding day, while the miniature medallions on her ribbons are inspired by royal family orders.
US toy maker Mattel unveiled a limited edition figure of Her Majesty last month to celebrate the monarch’s impressive 70-year reign.
Her father, VI, gave the pink ribbon to the queen. George was given the blue ribbon by his grandfather, George V.
The silver pin attached to the underside of the wing represents the Star of the Garter pin, the insignia of the Order of the Garter, the UK’s highest knighthood.
The doll is part of the Barbie’s Tribute Collection, launched last year to celebrate visionaries for their incredible contribution, influence and legacy as pioneers.
Barbie is presented in a box inspired by the Buckingham Palace Throne Room and features a commemorative crest for the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession.
Desperate buyers are eager to get the piece for Barbie with an offer of around £800, while some sellers are triple the doll’s price.
Historian and professor Kate Williams, author of “Elizabeth Our Queen,” said: “Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has had a tremendous impact, holding a position that few women have.
The Queen is the longest-serving British monarch and the first person to earn a platinum jubilee. She devoted herself to service and duty, and she saw the world change immeasurably.
When she ascended to the throne in 1952, women were not encouraged to work, and politicians expressed doubts about a young female monarch, but she proved them wrong, proving her to be an accomplished leader and diplomat.
Based on a portrait commissioned to celebrate her 60th year on the throne in 2012, Barbie shows Her Majesty in an elegant ivory dress and a blue ribbon embellished with bespoke ornaments.
“As Her Majesty celebrates this historic anniversary, it’s great to see an iconic brand like Barbie share important historical female figures as leaders, creators and pioneers for the next generation.”
Throughout the year, Her Majesty and members of the royal family travel the country to attend various events to celebrate the milestone, culminating with the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The four-day weekend kicks off Thursday, 2 June, with Colorful Trooping, which will be staged for the first time since the pandemic, with a thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday.
Source: Daily Mail
