A Limited-Edition Barbie Doll of the Queen Has Been Created for Her Platinum Jubilee

Mattel

 The figure marks the first time a living royal has been transformed into a Barbie doll

 With the queen turning 96 today and her 70th year on the throne being celebrated this June, Britain’s longest-serving monarch will certainly not be short of tributes in 2022. But there is one honor that she has yet to receive until now: her own Barbie doll.

 Toy maker Mattel announced today the release of a new figure in the queen’s likeness ahead of her Platinum Jubilee. Complete with her trademark coiffed hair, the Tribute Collection Barbie doll of Queen Elizabeth II comes dressed in one of Her Majesty’s signature looks.

 “The Barbie design team captured all the details from the Crown Jewels to the little medallions on the riband to bring this regal representation into reality,” a statement sent to BAZAAR reads. “The tiara is based on Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, and the little medallions on ribbons are the Royal Family Orders. The Queen’s look is inspired by the style and color of a gown that she’s favored in royal portraits of herself—following her signature look of simple, white, or ivory designs.”

Mattel

 

 Indeed, the details on the royal Barbie even include the queen’s Order of the Garter, with her blue sash adorned with a silver star representing Britain’s most senior order of chivalry founded during the Middle Ages in the major courts of Europe.

 “The gown is not a copy of any one dress she wears, but rather a gown inspired by the style and color of gown that she’s favored in royal portraits of herself for the past several years,” senior director of Barbie design Robert Best explains. “If you look at those portraits or how she dresses for important events, she very much has a signature style and look—always a very simple design in white or ivory, which makes sense given that she must then wear all the accompanying jewelry and sash as befits her rank.”

 At $75, the doll may also be the closest most will get to owning a version of the queen’s iconic Fringe Tiara. First worn on her wedding day to Prince Philip in 1947, and then by royal brides Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice, the gold, silver, and diamond-encrusted headpiece is estimated to be worth around $9 million!

Mattel

 Even the packaging is royal, with a Buckingham Palace–inspired depiction of a throne room to pay tribute to the queen’s accession to the throne in 1952. It also comes with a doll stand to display the queen in a number of regal poses.

 Barbie manufacturer Mattel launched the Tribute series to celebrate women who have made impacts in the world or their   industries. Last year, the brand created a doll for the late actress Lucille Ball to tie in with the 70th anniversary of the sitcom I Love Lucy. 

This is the company’s first doll made in the image of a living royal and is available to buy via Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Mattel.

 source: By Omid Scobie  www.harpersbazaar.com

Queen Elizabeth: U.K. Will Move to Ban Anti-LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy

“People should be free to be themselves in the U.K.,” briefing notes of the queen's speech read.

In the her speech earlier today in front of the British parliament, Queen Elizabeth II announced that the country will ban so-called conversion therapy that attempts to turn LGBTQ+ people heterosexual or cisgender.

In a 10-minute prepared speech, the queen laid out her plans for the country’s future, including health care, business, education, and housing. She also addressed conversion therapy. “Measures will be brought forward to address racial and ethnic disparities and ban conversion therapy,” she announced.

The queen delivered the speech, but the words are traditionally written by the prime minister as a way to announce upcoming governmental plans. While no details were given by the queen herself, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government said they would ban the “abhorrent practices which can cause mental and physical harm.”

“People should be free to be themselves in the U.K.,” the briefing notes released with the queen’s speech read. “The ban will eliminate coercive practices which cause mental and physical harm to individuals. We will ensure the action we take to stop this practice is proportionate and effective, and does not have unintended consequences. We will ensure medical professionals, religious leaders, teachers and parents can continue to be able to have open and honest conversations with people.”

The briefing notes also said that the government has commissioned research into the effects of conversion therapy and will be developing a “package of support” that will “ensure victims of conversion therapy are able to find and access the help that they need,” and plan to unveil it by this summer.

This is part of a move many countries around the globe have joined in on to ban the practice. Last year Albania became the third country in Europe to officially ban conversion therapy. Germany and Malta had previously done so after the European Union formally voted to condemn the practice and urged all members to ban it.

Other countries, like Canada, are currently considering a ban. In the United States, 20 states and Washington, D.C. have banned the practice for minors, including Washington, Oregon, California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. However, 26 states still have no ban and no policies addressing conversion therapy.

President Joe Biden has condemned conversion therapy and said that one of his goals as president is to ban the practice. On the campaign trail he called the practice “sick” and vowed to put an end to it.

source: By Mey Rude  www.advocate.com