Yesterday we got to see fun photos and video of bride-to-be Kate Middleton (and her princely fiancée William) partaking in some pancake flipping in Belfast. Today we learn that the beautiful Kate has been made into a doll that you can play with. While there has already been a big influx of Royal Wedding memorabilia unleashed upon the world (like books, coins, other toys and various odds & ends), this new doll seems like it would be a welcome addition to the collectibles that have already been made available.

She’s got the glossy, chestnut hair, the blue silk dress, the jewels — and she could be yours, for a princely $195. The pint-sized Kate Middleton Doll, by the Franklin Mint, is no cheap date. But she’s the latest in royal wedding memorabilia. One of a two-doll Kate set (the bridal version will be released after Britain’s Royal Wedding takes place), the 16-inch doll’s release is announced this week, in anticipation of the royal couple’s big day. The global excitement around the British royal wedding, combined with the opportunities offered for internet businesses — there was no eBay when Charles and Diana married in 1981 — means this wedding could break all previous official and unofficial merchandise sales. And companies including the Franklin Mint are hoping to cash in. Gwynne Gorr, a longtime collector and chief marketing officer for the Franklin Mint says, “The memorabilia will be much more available in the world market just because you can buy things on the internet … It will have a positive impact on the merchandising of this event.”

Undoubtedly there will be TONS of Royal Wedding crap, er, memorabilia available for sale by the time Prince Wills and Kate say their I Dos in April … but some of the stuff, I have to admit, is kinda cool. This doll is pretty fab … tho, I don’t know how much I like the $195 price tag. Still, there are rabid collectors out there … and I’m certain that this Kate Middleton doll is sure to be high on their wish lists. What do y’all think of this doll? Is it something you’d like to add to your collection?

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