10 Quirky Royal Wedding Keepsakes You Need to See

While Americans are known for capitalizing on popular events, the British are equally adept. As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding approaches on Saturday, May 19, 2018, the nation and the world are preparing for a surge in commemorative merchandise. Porcelain and pottery producers are working overtime to create plates and mugs to meet the growing demand, while savvy vendors find creative ways to link their products to the royal occasion.

Nearly anything tied to the wedding can become a souvenir, but here are the top 10 most unusual royal wedding memorabilia from history and today.

1. Mustache Mug

During the Edwardian period, thick mustaches (or 'moustaches,' as Her Majesty would spell it) were a fashion staple for men. To prevent their mustaches from getting wet while drinking tea or lemonade, the mustache mug was invented. This clever cup featured a small shelf over the lip and a hole for sipping. A rare example, made to commemorate King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Denmark, is part of Church's China's collection.

2. Kate Middleton Porcelain Thimbles

Thimble collecting is a quirky hobby where the memorabilia has surpassed the practical use of the item itself. Once a common household tool, porcelain thimbles can now be used for their original purpose of meticulous sewing, or as a stylish token in a game of Monopoly (if the top hat is already taken). Alternatively, you can display one featuring Kate Middleton's image — a perfect addition to your collection alongside a "Jersey Shore" samurai sword or a Susan Boyle Napoleon hat.

3. Commemorative Frisbee

It's unlikely the House of Windsor approved their names being printed on a novelty flying disc celebrating Charles and Diana's wedding. Yet, perhaps they should have. Maybe it represents the couple's whirlwind romance, or the manufacturer aimed to merge the elegance of the British royals with the thrill of Ultimate Frisbee. Then again, it might have just been a quick money-making scheme.

4. Royal Rubik's Cube

Rubik's cubes gained fame in the 1980s, but they truly became iconic when the traditional six-color design was replaced with something more relatable. Solving colored blocks is mundane, but adding human faces changed the game. When a clever toymaker put Lady Di's smile on one side and Prince Charles' face on the other, the Rubik's cube finally resonated emotionally, cementing its place in pop culture history.

Alright, we fabricated that tale, but the commemorative Rubik's Cube is indeed real. Some royal keepsakes are elegant, while others blatantly chase trends of the era. We'll let you decide where the 1981 royal wedding Rubik's Cube fits.

5. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson's Wedding Cake

Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Elaine accidentally eats a 60-year-old slice of cake from King Edward VIII's wedding?

What you may not realize is that this ancient cake slice is real and was sold at Sotheby's in 1998 for almost $30,000. It came in a box labeled "A PIECE OF OUR WEDDING CAKE W.E." The initials stand for Wallis and Edward, but reversed, they serve as a warning: no matter how curious you are, it's best to leave that box unopened.

6. Prince William Royal Wedding Pillbox

Selling keepsakes to mark royal weddings isn't a modern idea. Like many old traditions, some items that once seemed meaningful now appear outdated and uninspired.

In that vein, we introduce the Prince William Royal Wedding Pillbox. It’s neither a hat nor a military bunker. It’s simply a container for holding pills.

Prince William isn’t the first royal to be associated with a pillbox. Decades ago, before child-proof caps existed, these boxes were the only barrier preventing children from needing a stomach pump after accidentally ingesting pills.

While a pillbox featuring Edward VII and his imposing mustache might have been a deterrent, Prince William’s charm makes it less effective. Until a less appealing royal emerges, child-proof caps remain the safer choice.

7. Colonial Stamps

During the era when colonial empires were a mark of national prestige, British colonies released commemorative stamps for every major celebration in the motherland. Today, EBay is filled with royal stamps from former British territories like Guyana, Nigeria, Antigua, and Kenya — places now rarely linked to Britain. These stamps imply that colonies were so thrilled by Queen Elizabeth II's silver wedding jubilee that they celebrated by issuing stamps, the smallest yet symbolic gesture of loyalty to a distant monarch.

8. Prince William and Kate Middleton Welsh Dragon

Typically, porcelain wedding collections include gravy boats and teacups, but when you're the Prince of Wales, expectations are higher.

Royal Crown Derby, a renowned porcelain manufacturer dating back to 1750, crafted a limited edition of Welsh red dragons to honor Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

This is undoubtedly our top pick on the list. One of the advantages of being the Prince of Wales is having an iconic mascot. While England has a bulldog and Scotland a thistle, the red dragon stands out as undeniably impressive.

Royal Crown Derby also released a collection for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, but none of the limited-edition pieces captured our enthusiasm quite like this one.

9. Charles and Diana Royal Wedding Beer Mug

Charles and Diana bring an unexpected touch of sophistication to a porcelain beer mug available for just 99 cents on eBay. It resembles an oversized teacup, the kind a towering earl might use at a garden party.

Featuring a floral design, gold detailing, and portraits of Prince Charles and Lady Diana on the front, this mug lets you revel in the romance and elegance of their 1981 wedding. And yes, you can also enjoy your beer in style.

10. Dulce de Leche

Margaret Tyler, a London grandmother and royal memorabilia enthusiast, owns an extensive collection that fills five rooms in her home, as reported by Daily Mail writer Jessica Rach. Alongside typical items like commemorative plates, newspaper clippings, and royal wedding programs, her $65,000 collection even includes a jar of dulce de leche.

Why is a jar of sweetened milk so significant? Allegedly, it holds a strand of Princess Diana's hair. How Mrs. Tyler obtained it and verified its authenticity remains unclear, as does whether the dulce de leche is still safe to consume.