UK’s Queen Elizabeth II Barbie doll celebrates the royal’s 96th birthday and Platinum Jubilee
- Doll joins the Barbie Tribute Collection, created to celebrate ‘visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture’, maker Mattel said
- ‘In 1952, when she came to the throne, politicians expressed doubts about a young female monarch – but she showed them’, Kate Williams, historian and author said
To mark the 96th birthday of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, a royal Barbie doll has been released to celebrate. It also honours the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee as she is the first British royal to serve 70 years on the throne.
The new Barbie’s dress is inspired by one of the queen’s most iconic looks. The collectible doll wears an ivory gown, blue riband with decorations of order and a stunning tiara based on the late Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara.
“In 1952, when she came to the throne, women were not encouraged to work and politicians expressed doubts about a young female monarch – but she showed them wrong, proved herself an adept leader and diplomat,” Kate Williams, historian and author of Our Queen Elizabeth, said
“As Her Majesty celebrates this milestone jubilee it is wonderful to see an iconic brand like Barbie share important historical female figures impact as leaders, creators and pioneers to new generations,” she said.
The queen’s Barbie joins the Tribute Collection, set to celebrate “visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture.” The collection was launched last year by toy company Mattel, which makes Barbies, with the first doll paying tribute to Lucille Ball, star of I Love Lucy.
“The queen is the perfect addition to the Barbie Tribute Collection, intended to honour women whose contributions have had a great impact. We’re proud to celebrate her historic milestone and encourage kids to learn more about her legacy,” Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s EVP and global head of Barbie and dolls, stated.
At a starting price of US$75, the queen’s Barbie is available through retailers including Mattel and Amazon.
The royal family shared birthday wishes for the queen on social media Thursday, posting a rare photograph of the monarch at two-years-old on Twitter. Members of the royal family – including Prince William, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall – also posted their well-wishes to the queen online.
