The Toy Zone – The Queen meets Barbie

Like most girls I loved to play with dolls when I was young. I had a big doll, later a baby doll, of course Barbies (or rather the cheaper version Sindy) and also smaller ballerina dolls. Furthermore my sister and I were big fans of paper dolls. Nothing more fun than creating clothes ourselves. Girls and Princesses are a great combination. Royals have often been the inspiration for royal dolls.

I recall there are dolls of the late Diana Princess of Wales and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and probably a lot more. Mattel created Barbie dolls of Queen Marie-Antoinette of France, Queen Elizabeth I of England, Pharaoh Cleopatra, Grace Kelly, and even a William and Catherine Royal Wedding giftset. In Sweden in 2010 I saw a Crown Princess Victoria one, which was unfortunately not for sale. You’d think dolls based on royals would sell quite well in the shops at royal palaces, apart from all these tea towels, mugs or decoration, but I have never seen one there. I wonder if the royals themselves are not in favour of being merchandised that way.

I was informed lately about a project of TheToyZone, which mission it is to help more kids end up with toys they love. They do this by researching the toys real people are enjoying. Recently they therefore recreated seven iconic looks of Queen Elizabeth II in Barbie form. Like Barbie (who was “born” in 1959 only) the Queen entered the public imagination in the 1950s and both have remained a feminist icon in their own unique way, TheToyZone says.

Unfortunately Lizzie isn’t available to buy, as I am pretty sure she would sell very well. You will immediately recognise her and lots of her looks. These have been “created”:

  • 1945 – Lizzie Mechanic: The war effort, showing Elizabeth as a Princess in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
  • 1953 – Lizzie Coronation: Coronation Day, one of the most important days in the life of the Queen.
  • 1967 – Lizzie Flower Power : Royal visit to Malta, of which she was a head of state until 1974. She also lived there with Prince Philip for a while when she was not yet the Queen.
  • 1987 – Lizzie Lady of the Thistle: By now a grandmother Queen Elizabeth attended the biannual Order of the Thistle service in Edinburgh.
  • 1988 – Lizzie Joquette: The Queen attending one of her favourite pasttimes – the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
  • 1999 – Lizzie Variety Star: Probably the Queen’s most colourful look.
  • 2016 – Lizzie Birthday Queen: Many of us still remember the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, when she wore lime green.

If you want to see more and read a bit of history of Barbie herself too, I recommend you going to the website of TheToyZone. And who knows one day the palace shops finally agree and actually have these exquisit dolls created in real.

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