As we sorted through our stock yesterday, adding items relevant to the Duke of Edinburgh, we found this medallion. It is, according to the books, the only souvenir medallion issued for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Phillip Mountbatten. The wedding, in 1947, came at a bad time for commemorative medals, as raw materials were in short supply and I assume people were thinking of other things. In 1951, the Lesney company (later to be makers of the famous Matchbox range) nearly closed down because they were unable to get supplies of zinc, due to the needs of the Korean War. We also had bread and potato rationing in the years after the war due to bad harvests, neither of which had been rationed in the war.
A a further example of royal hand-me-downs, as mentioned in the above link. The famous Coronation coach model made by Lesney (a million selling souvenir) was originally designed as a commemorative for George VI and later remodelled after his death to become the Coronation coach model for the Queen. Cynicism in royal souvenirs has clearly existed for some time.
Royal Wedding Medallion 1947 Reverse
Royal Wedding Medallion 1947 Reverse
It’s not the most6 artistic medallion, but it does the job and shows a feature of many royal commemoratives, which persists to the present day – the Queen is depicted using a good likeness and the Duke is only identifiable as the Duke because he is next to his wife. I have other examples of this, but won’t bore you with them.
It appears that it wasn’t just me who thought the TV coverage hit the wrong note. I know it’s difficult but turning over both BBC channels to coverage of the Duke was, I feel, excessive. I thought that coverage of Diana’s demise was over the top, but it was at least unexpected, and it was news. Having said that, I have still not forgiven the British public for their great outpouring of grief for someone who, and I pick my words carefully, wasn’t really of much importance to most of us. It seems the BBC have probably overreacted because they were criticised for their lack of seriousness in dealing with the death of the Queen Mother. I can’t remember what they did, so it was probably about right.
It’s an example of the way things have changed. In 1947 Britain still made things, These days we ship huge quantities of goods into the country from China. Plastic, in those days, was a wonder material. These days it’s held to be responsible for so much that is wrong with the way we live. In 1947 we produced a white metal medallion as a commemorative. Today, I am bracing myself for a deluge of low quality commemorative coins.
He has, it seems, left instructions for his funeral to be simple, which is pretty much what you would expect from a man who used to cook his own breakfast (in contrast to some of his bone-idle issue).
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Just checking in, Quercus. All OK?
Yes, I’m OK thanks -just seem to have ben very tired and just haven’t posted. Thanks, for asking. 😉
I agree entirely about the on the image of Prince Philip on the coin. It might just as well be Fred Bloggs from the High Street!
Alphie
Yes, it’s had to see a hint of Prince Philip in there. 🙂
Reflecting from this side of the world, I wonder if the coverage given to his death reflects the esteem felt by many for The Queen and for her loss of a husband.
That could well be true, and it will be an unhappy time for the Queen. On the other hand, mourning, and the Royal Family, are not what they used to be, and perhaps the coverage was a bit over the top.
We had the coronation coach. It was wonderful!
I should have added that I completely concur with your remarks regarding the coverage.
When I dealt in old toys they always sold quickly to people who remembered them frpm childhood. 🙂
A great likeness of Matt Smith, I thought. I agree entirely about the Diana fiasco
It’s a sad day for Matt Smith, in that case. 🙂
One of the blessings of mostly watching shows on streaming is that we watch what we want when we want.
I’m thinking of learning how to do it – watch less and watch just what I want. Good plan. 🙂
I think streaming it where it is all headed these days.
Yes, I must look into it.