Queen Elizabeth's VAT halt

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has stopped a VAT increase on royal merchandise to help keep wedding souvenirs affordable for fans.

The monarch has decided not to introduce 20 per cent tax hike in her royal gift shops as merchandise to mark 28-year-old Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, 29, flies off the shelves.

The Royal Collection souvenirs for the April 29 nuptials - which include a £40 commemorative plate, £35 tankard and £25 pill box - will be frozen at their original price to visitors at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Edinburgh's Holyrood House.

In the shops, a sign next to a photo of William and Kate, says: "The Royal Collection will not be increasing its prices following the rise in VAT."

A Royal Collection spokeswoman said: "We have taken the decision to absorb the increase simply because we can.

"In austere times we have decided that is going to be our course of action. The souvenirs have been incredibly popular."

Royal fan James Leonard from Yorkshire said: "I am a huge fan of the queen and this shows how much she cares about the public during these tough times.

"Everyone is looking forward to the royal wedding and this means I can still afford a souvenir and remember the day forever."

Eizo Soma, 30, from Japan added to London's Evening Standard: "We've bought the Prince William and Kate pill pots as a souvenir of the wedding. It's no surprise that the merchandise is popular."