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With only a couple of days remaining for the Royal Wedding, markets in UK are overflowing with merchandise. The soon-to-be-wed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being the inspiration behind these. Many are cashing in on the hype. There are a few, like the Windsor Homeless Project, who are marketing memorabilia for a charitable cause. It will support homeless people in the royal borough. The royal couple are also passionate about philanthropy. They have asked people to donate to charities instead of sending them wedding gifts. In this spirit of generosity, MINI has designed a one-off Mini Cooper S to donate, to commemorate the special occasion.
With Crystal White exteriors, the car features a silver-blue accent strip that wraps around it’s body. The regular features in chrome, such as the frame of the black honey-comb patterned grill, the door handles and the surrounds of the rear lights and headlights are topped off with a blue-black tinted coat. The graphically painted roof stands out from the exterior. Red, blue and white have been layered in an edgy layout which combines the Union Jack and the Stars & Stripes, symbolising the alliance through matrimony of the couple’s homelands. The stripes from the roof extend onto the bonnet, lending a harmony to the design.
Apart from the unmissable roof, this special Mini has many minute details. The rear lights have the pattern of the Union Jack. The Mini’s scuttles around the side-turn signal indicator have been 3D printed and embellished with the initials M and H, alongside a heart and rings. On opening the door, the door light projects “Just Married” onto the ground and the scuff plates says “Mini Loves You”.
A 3D printed trim strip on the dashboard bears the first names of the couple, the date of the wedding and best wishes from the Mini team. The trim strips of the door and the embroidery on the head restraint mirror the graphics of the roof. The vanity mirror, too, features a special message of love. The satellite grey leather of the interiors accentuate these elements.
“As an iconic British brand with almost 60 years of history in the UK, we are pleased to mark the royal wedding with this special charitable gift,” explains Oliver Heilmer, Head of Mini design. After the wedding on 19th May, 2018, the Mini will be handed over to the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA). It will then be publicly auctioned. Dr Amanda Williams, Chair of CHIVA, had this to say. “We are delighted and honoured that Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have chosen to recognise our work supporting the health and well-being of children and young people living with HIV in the UK and Ireland. We are grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness of the complex issues for young people growing up with HIV. We are a very small charity and through our work we support over 1,000 young people living with HIV. All donations will make a significant difference to our programmes of work. We hope it will lead to direct improvements in the lives of these young people.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011,helped raise more than 1 million pounds. Judging by the frenzy surrounding the upcoming royal nuptials, the auction of this exclusive one-off Mini, exuberating royalty, is sure to fetch a good hammer price.
