TOURIST hotspots in York have been stocking up on royal memorabilia ahead of the Queen’s visit to the city next week.

With more than 15,000 additional tourists expected to flock to the city for the day’s events, local businesses have been making special arrangements for both the royal visit and the influx of visitors.

Among the many royal-themed items on sale are everything from books, mugs, bags to corgi-shaped cakes.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and their granddaughter Princess Beatrice of York, are visiting the city on Thursday to mark the Queen’s annual Maundy service which this year being held in York Minster. The visit is considered a coup for the city which falls as the Queen marks her Diamond Jubilee year.

York Minster Souvenirs, situated on Minster Gates, has stocked 15 jubilee-themed products, with everything ranging from books, bowls and bags, in anticipation of the event.

Pandora’s Gifts and Souvenirs are also providing the public with a wide selection of memorabilia. With branches on Stonegate, Lower Petergate and Shambles, manager Evelyne Robertson was excited about what the visit would mean for her stores.

Caroline Cushen, a sales assistant, said: “Pandora’s Gifts and Souvenirs is always very patriotic. We’re stocking in preparation for the jubilee as is shown from our front window display. We are overjoyed by the Queen’s visit to York and hopefully we’ll get to have a look at her.”

Another business planning for the crowds is The York Sweet Shop, which has stocked jubilee mugs in honour of the occasion. Manager Denise Peebels said: “We are all very excited and hope she’ll come into the shop. We expect to be very busy on the day of her visit.”

Meanwhile Bettys is pulling out all the stops for both the city’s royal visit and the Diamond Jubilee year.

Diamond Jubilee chocolate bears, Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and marzipan royal corgis and many other Jubilee novelties are among the items to be sold online and in stores and the St Helen’s Square tearoom is also due to have a Diamond Jubilee-themed window display.

A member of staff said: “We are very excited about the Queen’s forthcoming visit to York and are busy preparing for the expected crowds.”