What’s in a name? Well, if you’re called Charles or Camilla and you live in the UK, maybe a lot of tedious one-liners and questions about whether your parents were royalists.
But with the official ascension of your namesakes to the role of king and queen comes some long overdue benefits, which may make up for the arched eyebrows when your present your ID. The boon is thanks to the opportunistic cynicism of marketing bigwigs who are trying everything in their power to cash in on next weekend’s festivities by doling out a string of freebies and deals to anyone who shares a name with the royal couple.
Prizes ranging from free holidays to days out and coffees are being offered. Butlin’s are offering a free mini break at the resort of your choice, complete with premium dining and the chance to see The Masked Singer Live if your name is Charles or Camilla, or even Charlie, Charli, Charl, Kamilla or Cammie.
Not to be outdone, Warner Holidays is offering namesakes the chance to win a two-night staycation – you guessed it – “fit for a king”. Its rules are a bit stricter. Your legal name has to be Charles or Camilla.
The gravy train doesn’t end there. Do you want to “eat like a king?” perhaps with “pre-portioned ingredients and easy to follow recipe cards”? Well it is your lucky day (if you are called Charles or Camilla) as HelloFresh is giving away recipe boxes with a special menu to mark the event.
The perhaps most simpatico deal though for Charles or Camillas at a loose end over the coronation long weekend is free entry to Bletchley Park, home of the world war two Codebreakers, a saving of £25.50 on an adult ticket. With a week to go the number of coronation promotions and advertising is at fever pitch, but are they all fit for a king?
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“We are seeing brands jumping on the bandwagon but not everything has a natural or an obvious fit,” said Catherine Shuttleworth, chief executive of Savvy Marketing. She pointed to flak received by Tesco for signs next to loo rolls and sanitary product displays suggesting “let’s celebrate the king’s coronation”. She also thought promotions “such as ‘win a coffee if you are called Charles or Camilla’ don’t feel very inclusive in 2023 Britain”. If you are feeling left out there are other niche competitions to enter. Do you own a chicken and live in the Forest of Dean, for example? Cinderford town council is calling on locals to enter theirs in a competition that could see it crowned the “coronation chicken” by the mayor.