London - Move over, Kate. There’s a new fashion queen in the Windsor family.
Her identity? Well?…the clue is in the title.
Sales of Launer handbags, the Queen’s favourite brand, have risen by 52 percent in the last year.
The firm says the increase is down to her recent willingness to experiment with different styles and colours of her trademark boxy bag.
The sales boom echoes the so-called ‘Kate effect’ – anything the Duchess of Cambridge is seen wearing usually flies off the shelves in minutes. Launer’s owner Gerald Bodmer said: “What is lovely is that people are thinking of her as a fashion icon rather than an elderly person. The fact is that she does carry stuff that other people want.”
Although the Queen usually opts for a simple black patent model, in the last year she has chosen a variety of different colours.
It is these colourful designs which have proved hugely popular with customers.
Mr Bodmer told The Sunday Times: “We are very lucky. She is really loyal to us and loyal to British merchandise. I get a colossal buzz every time we see a picture of the Queen with one of our handbags.
“We couldn’t have a better advert. It’s wonderful.
“She is partly the reason we’re still here. Having a Royal Warrant makes a big difference to a firm like us.”
The Queen owns around 40 Launer bags, which she has used since the 1960s. Her bespoke bags always come with a mirror, a matching purse and a glasses case.
A Launer handbag costs between £435 (about R6 900) and £6 000. - Daily Mail