In London, the goodies with the effigy of Meghan and Harry are no longer a recipe

• A few weeks ago, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan made the decision to renounce their royal obligations and leave Great Britain to settle in Canada.
• A personal decision which surprised the royal subjects, but also the queen, who acceded to their request and decided in passing to withdraw their royal titles from them.
• Since then, the cups, plates and other objects bearing their effigy sold in London souvenir shops no longer interest tourists.

From our special correspondent in London

Bye bye Europe! This is it, it's official, the English have left the European Union, now that Brexit has been established. But they are not the only ones to have said goodbye. Across the Channel, another rupture is consummated: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry also said "bye bye" to the old continent and decided to withdraw from the royal family. Direction Canada, where a new life relieved of the titles of highnesses and royal obligations awaits them with Archie.

Behind him, the couple leaves a tarnished image. With a rebellious temper, Harry is no longer the little darling prince of the kingdom. A change that weighs on him, as he recently confided. But which also weighs on the hearts of the many merchants at the head of souvenir shops. Because if there is a memory that tourists like to bring back from a vacation in the London capital, in addition to the traditional magnet in the shape of a double-decker bus, it is dishes bearing the image of the British royal family. Except that now they are no longer part of it, Meghan and Harry, of the royal family. And for traders, it's "bad" for business.

"They disgust me, I will never buy anything from them again!" "

By announcing their departure for another life, "Meghan and Harry made an affront to the Queen, they disrespected the crown and the obligations attached to it," decrypts Anna, French expatriate living in London, on the way to a shopping session at Harrod's. I am not used to the questions related to the monarchy, but it is clear that the English, them, do not joke with that and are not close to forgive them ». An analysis rather fitting with the feeling of Londoners. In the Covent-Garden district of central London, Sandra, a quinqua coquette 100% British, gives herself a lunch with her twin, Tricia. The conversation is good-natured, until the goodies of Meghan and Harry arrive at the menu of the discussion. "I hope there are no more souvenir items with their faces on them!" They are ungrateful, disrespectful, what they did to the queen is unacceptable, she protested. And he, who has always been at the heart of the royal family, turns his back on him and spits on his obligations without the slightest problem, it's shameful. Meghan and Harry disgust me, I will never buy from them again! Their behavior is "not correct, neither towards the queen, nor towards the English. I'm glad they have to reimburse the cost of the work on Frogmore Cottage, ”adds Tricia.

Finally, "there are souvenir shops everywhere, especially on Piccadilly Circus and at Camden Town Market," informs Sandra once her anger has subsided. But if you find memories with their faces on them, above all, negotiate! They don't deserve to be paid full price! »Direction Camden Town, therefore, to have the heart net. A must for tourists who love shopping, this market is a real Ali Baba cave for those looking for jewelry, second-hand clothes, vinyls, decorative items and souvenirs of all kinds. Going up Camden High Street, you can't miss the many souvenir shops. Magnets in the shape of an English telephone booth, “I love London” T-shirts and double-decker buses are available to the view and to the purses of barges. And of course, that ultimate and delightfully kitsch souvenir that you absolutely must bring back, a piece of tableware bearing the image of members of the royal family. Queen Elisabeth of course, but also William and Kate, Lady Di and, for the moment still, Harry and Meghan, find themselves affixed on mugs, plates, small spoons and tins of tea. Oddly, no trace of memory with Prince Charles and Camilla. But how long will William's little brother and his wife still sell?

In London souvenir shops, there are still goodies with the effigy of Meghan and Harry, but for how long? #Megxit pic.twitter.com/vzLvxA4NiV

"I'm going to have to sell everything"

In his Camden High Street store, Bashir still has Meghan and Harry are still prominently on the shelves. But already, the announcement of their withdrawal from the royal family made itself felt on his receipts "Tourists adored these objects bearing the image of Sussex, but for a few weeks, sales have collapsed. They no longer interest customers, he laments. Before, American tourists, happy to have a princess at home in the British crown, robbed stocks, it went like hotcakes! There, I will have to sell everything, "laments the trader who has already put several Meghan and Harry items on sale. Amanda, who spends a few days in the British capital with her friends, walks past these goodies without buying any. "It no longer has too much interest now, Meghan is no longer a princess," explains the young American, who will rather bring a mug with the effigy of Princess Charlotte, which she finds "so cute".

To seize! Meghan and Harry on sale in London souvenir shops (well, goodies with their effigy!) # Megxit pic.twitter.com/uZaTd7VtQm

For Bashir, "the urgency is to liquidate the stocks by making great promotions, so as not to end up with all these unsaleable memories on my hands". Is he hoping for a turnaround? No. "They're gone for good, so the business of making memories is about to be definitely finished. Manufacturers will no longer offer them in their catalog, ”explains Bashir.

After the Megxit, London traders are afraid of ending up with an unsaleable stock of souvenirs bearing the image of Meghan and Harry. - A. Boumediene / 20 Minutes

But all is not lost for business. "Tourists are falling back en masse on the other crowned heads, observes the trader: there is a big hype comeback from Kate and William, but also from Queen Elizabeth II, who is selling more than ever!" ", He rejoices. God save the Queen! And the business.

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VIDEO. Prince Harry suffers from negative judgments following the abandonment of his royal obligations

• Queen Elizabeth II
• Meghan Markle
• Britain
• Prince harry
• Culture
• Queen of England