I visited London for King Charles III's coronation and scoured the city for all the fun, kitschy souvenirs I could find

Alesandra DubinMay 10, 2023, 01:43 IST

Alesandra Dubin with a cardboard cutout of King Charles in London.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I'm an American who visited London for the coronation, and went on the hunt for kitschy souvenirs.
The most popular souvenirs around town were Union Jack flags — and flag prints on everything.

As an American in London for the coronation of King Charles III, I wasn't so much invested in the monarchy itself as I was thrilled to be on the ground for such a historic event — the first coronation in my lifetime.

But I'll confess: the thing that got me most excited for the visit was not the somber celebration for Britain's new monarch (I'm team Sussex anyway), but the promise of fun and kitschy souvenirs to bring back home — and maybe even keep forever as mementos of the occasion.

My first stop on the hunt was Fortnum & Mason, the 300-year-old shop on Piccadilly.

A window display of coronation souvenirs for sale at Fortnum & Mason in London.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I hoped to score a teacup, but I was told those were long gone despite one still remaining on display in the case. Still widely available, however, were tins of both the coronation coffee as well as the coronation tea.

Coronation-themed tea and coffee for sale at Fortnum & Mason.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I hoped to score a teacup, but I was told those were long gone despite one still remaining on display in the case. Still widely available, however, were tins of both the coronation coffee as well as the coronation tea.

At Fortnum & Mason, I also scooped up a gilded plate emblazoned with a stylized "2023" in honor of the coronation year for £29, or around $36.

Commemorative plates for sale at Fortnum & Mason.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I expected to find the best goodies not in a proper shop, but lining the streets, where I figured vendors would be capitalizing on the opportunity.

A street vendor selling Union Jack flags in London.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

At one Piccadilly street stand, I spotted coronation commemorative mugs for £8, around $10, or two for £15, around $19.

Coronation-themed mugs on display in a London souvenir shop.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

Walking into the area around Hyde Park to watch the coronation ceremony on the massive city-sponsored screens, I noticed a man selling souvenir programs of the day.

A man selling souvenir coronation programs and Union Jack flags in London.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

Indeed, the most widely-available souvenirs were flags of all kinds.

King Charles and Union Jack flags for sale on a street in London to mark the coronation.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

But it may have indeed been the rain around Hyde Park that discouraged some souvenir hawking — or perhaps I was just in the wrong place to look for it on coronation day.

There was plenty of rain in London on coronation day.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

But it may have indeed been the rain around Hyde Park that discouraged some souvenir hawking — or perhaps I was just in the wrong place to look for it on coronation day.

There, souvenir shops hawked everything from Charles paper cups (all the better to toast with) and printed bunting to stickers, mugs, and more.

A royal souvenir shop in London.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I also spotted some Union Jack sunglasses (more useful on the day following the coronation, when the weather was more favorable anyway), plus teddy bears, plush crowns, tote bags, souvenir coins, and more.

One souvenir shop was selling Union Jack sunglasses.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I also spotted some Union Jack sunglasses (more useful on the day following the coronation, when the weather was more favorable anyway), plus teddy bears, plush crowns, tote bags, souvenir coins, and more.

There were paper masks of Elizabeth's face as well as red, white, and blue face paint for patriotic displays.

A souvenir shop selling Queen Elizabeth masks, and red, white, and blue face-paint sets.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

The search may have been a bit harder than I thought it would be for all-in-good fun souvenirs from the historic day.

Alesandra Dubin still found a variety of coronation souvenirs.Alesandra Dubin/Insider

I spent a month working on a farm in Switzerland, and the volunteering made for the best sustainable vacation

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I visited London for King Charles III's coronation and scoured the city for all the fun, kitschy souvenirs I could find

My first stop on the hunt was Fortnum & Mason, the 300-year-old shop on Piccadilly.

I hoped to score a teacup, but I was told those were long gone despite one still remaining on display in the case. Still widely available, however, were tins of both the coronation coffee as well as the coronation tea.

At Fortnum & Mason, I also scooped up a gilded plate emblazoned with a stylized "2023" in honor of the coronation year for £29, or around $36.

I expected to find the best goodies not in a proper shop, but lining the streets, where I figured vendors would be capitalizing on the opportunity.

At one Piccadilly street stand, I spotted coronation commemorative mugs for £8, around $10, or two for £15, around $19.

Walking into the area around Hyde Park to watch the coronation ceremony on the massive city-sponsored screens, I noticed a man selling souvenir programs of the day.

Indeed, the most widely-available souvenirs were flags of all kinds.

But it may have indeed been the rain around Hyde Park that discouraged some souvenir hawking — or perhaps I was just in the wrong place to look for it on coronation day.

There, souvenir shops hawked everything from Charles paper cups (all the better to toast with) and printed bunting to stickers, mugs, and more.

I also spotted some Union Jack sunglasses (more useful on the day following the coronation, when the weather was more favorable anyway), plus teddy bears, plush crowns, tote bags, souvenir coins, and more.

There were paper masks of Elizabeth's face as well as red, white, and blue face paint for patriotic displays.

The search may have been a bit harder than I thought it would be for all-in-good fun souvenirs from the historic day.