Number plates inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have sold at auction for almost £6,000. The plates were among 2,000 registrations in the DVLA's October Timed Online Auction, in which more than £6.6m was spent on 1,977 plates, according to Dunstable-based private plates supplier, Regtransfers.
Auction highlights
The average plate sold for £3,341 including fees, while the most expensive, 48 O, went for £105,400, the firm said. Bidding on the final lot ran until 2.41am.
Among the 2,000 lots that went to auction were the registrations HA67 RRY, which could be read as "HARRY", and ME56 GAN, which resembles "MEGAN". Bidding on both started at £250, with the increase in value for HA67 RRY in the course of the auction putting it in the top 10% of all the plates sold.
Sale prices
According to the company, HA67 RRY sold for £4,048 (more than 16 times its starting price), while ME56 GAN sold for £1,934 (almost 8 times its starting price). Regtransfers noted that the plate reads "Megan", rather than "Meghan" as the Duchess of Sussex's name is spelled.
It explained that DVLA format rules leave little room for additional letters, and their experts say near-misses like this are common. The sale comes days after the royal couple were met by cheering crowds during a visit to Nottingham on Thursday last week (October 15).
Reaction and context
Mark Trimbee, CEO of Regtransfers, said: "Plates that resemble famous names always draw interest, and when it comes to the sale of these plates, timing is everything. With Harry and Meghan back in the UK, these make perfect plates for any avid fans of the couple."
Sale prices are the final prices paid, which includes the 3% buyer's premium, VAT and the £80 assignment fee per plate, with the total hammer value of the two plates coming to £5,216,520.
Harry and Meghan visited with local charities in Nottingham their first joint public outing since King Charles confirmed their royal status hasn't changed following their return and they remain non-working royals. They stepped down as senior royals in early 2020 before relocating to California where they have been raising their two young children, Archie and Lilibet, for the past few years. They made an unexpected return to the UK in late August, with their children enrolling in British schools.
