Royal fridge magnet is attractive sideline (From Croydon Guardian)

Royal fridge magnet is attractive sideline

7:23am Monday 7th March 2005 in

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Everyone loves a wedding but the forthcoming nuptials of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles has proved to be a profitable business venture for one mum.

Despite the imminent arrival of her third child, Joanna Leapman is working round the clock to meet demand for her memorabilia commemorating the royal wedding.

No sooner had the couple announced their engagement last month than the mum-of-two was busy designing Charles and Camilla fridge magnets and badges.

Joanna, 35, of Upper Norwood, said: "It was my brother who suggested that I should make Charles and Camilla fridge magnets and badges. I was designing them on the afternoon of the announcement.

"I'm expecting my third child in four weeks, but this has taken over my life."

Joanna produces customised badges, fridge magnets and key rings to sell through her website www.babymagnets.com, but says the commemorative merchandise is fast becoming the site's best-selling line.

Joanna has already sold more than 150 items of memorabilia and is working non-stop to keep up with soaring demand ahead of the wedding in Windsor on April 8.

Luckily she owns a machine which enables her to produce a badge or magnet every five minutes.

She said: "We've had an amazing response from all over the world. We've had many buyers, particularly from America."

She added: "It just goes to show that people are still interested in the royal family, if this was 50 years ago I'm sure I would've sold a lot more."

However, Joanna admits the success of the £1.75 magnets has taken her completely by surprise.

"The money I'm receiving from the sales is kind of irrelevant," she said. "It was just meant to be an experiment to see what people will buy, I didn't expect for the magnets to be so popular."

While being overwhelmed by the response for the commemorative items Joanna says she has no overriding opinion about the couple's wedding.

She said: "At the end of the day if they're happy, they're happy. People will always think about Diana because so many people loved her, but if they are in love so be it."