Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday: Commemorative Bone China Has 22-Carat Gold

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday in April, the Royal Collection Trust will release fine bone china collectibles in her name. She will be commemorated with bone china cups, saucers, mugs and plates. These articles will be hand-made as well as edged with hand-applied 22-carat gold.

Apart from the cups, saucers, mugs and plates, there is also a pillbox and a decoration. The gifts or collectibles range from as low as 15.95 pounds ($22.23) to 89 pounds ($124.04). The china features designs in white, blue and gold patterns. Created by 50 workers, in factories around Stoke-on-Trent they have used methods dating back 250 years.

The queen will celebrate a set of two birthdays. While her actual birthday is on April 21, her official birthday will be celebrated with fanfare all over the country in June. The dates have found a mention in the line of china produced by the Royal Collection Trust. The center of the pieces features the royal coat of arms, with the lion, unicorn and the garter.

The logo is surrounded by garlands of forget-me-nots, which are in bloom in April at the time of Elizabeth’s actual birthday and cornflowers which are then in bloom in June. This was revealed by Ian Grant, production controller of the Royal Collection. It also has the national emblem flowers of the United Kingdom — the rose, shamrock (Northern Ireland), thistle (Scotland) and daffodil (Wales).

Besides, the chinaware also features fluttering blue ribbon ties and a glorious three loop “birthday” bow. The china comes packaged in Royal Collection Trust tissue paper and presented in a handmade gift box by the trust. “With it celebrating Her Majesty’s 90th birthday, it was a very personal event, and we wanted to make it a little bit more personal than other commemorative china,” said Grant.

Two months ago Elizabeth said she was happy with the designs. The chinaware can be bought at the palace shops and online.