Are Kate Middleton’s Parents Profiting Off Royal Pregnancy?
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Danny Martindale/WireImage(LONDON) — Kate Middleton’s parents are unveiling a new line of baby goods with a regal “little prince” and “princess” theme, prompting speculation that the Middletons are already cashing in on their unborn grandchild.
But profiting from the royal baby — their first grandchild — isn’t such a bad thing for Michael and Carole Middleton, founders of 25-year-old Party Pieces, a mail-order party supply company, said Ian Drew, senior editor at US Weekly magazine.
“They are a party company, OK?” he told ABC News. “They’re based in England and that’s what sells there. People are very into anything that’s royalty or relates to the royal family. They can’t be hindered by the fact that they’re related to the royal family.”
The line includes party plates and other paper products.
It’s not the first time the Middletons have been accused of using their daughter’s royal connections to sell products from Party Pieces and make a quick buck. While they make no direct mention or sell anything on their website that can be linked to the royals, the timing has raised eyebrows.
Will and Kate, both 30, announced the pregnancy a few weeks ago.
Party Pieces offered plenty of paraphernalia before the royal wedding in April 2011, and the company even cashed in this year on the queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“This is England, these are very important historical events over there,” Drew said. “It is the birth of the future heir to the throne; it is the jubilee; it is the royal wedding, but no matter who puts it out, whether it’s the Middletons or your regular, average, run of the mill party planner, this is what people want to buy.”
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio