A Lakehill Preparatory School teacher with a passion for collecting royal family souvenirs won a blue ribbon at the State Fair of Texas.
English teacher Elizabeth Schmitt submitted two plates that won first place in the collectible dishes category. The first commemorated Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and the other marked the coronation of Edward VIII.
A collectible plate showing Edward VIII.
“I had many items to choose from, but I selected these two pieces for their age and history,” Schmitt said.
Growing up with the same name as the queen of England spurred Schmitt’s interest in British history and the monarchy.
In 1982, Schmitt purchased her first collectible item, a coffee mug commemorating the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. She added to her collection while completing her master’s in London and through various vacations.
“My late husband found several items for me, including the ones I entered, at local estate sales,” she said. “Winning the blue ribbon is a tribute to his memory.”
The plates will be on display in the Creative Arts Building through the end of the fair. Any of Schmitt’s students who send her a selfie next to the display will earn extra credit.
