TV Star Bids For Bea's Royal Wedding Hat

Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne has bid for the hat worn by Princess Beatrice at last month's Royal Wedding.

The Philip Treacy creation is being auctioned on eBay for charities Unicef and Children in Crisis.

Mr Bannatyne, who is a Unicef UK ambassador as well as an entrepreneur and TV star, offered the £5,000 starting price and praised the auction.

"Whatever anyone thinks of the hat, it is fantastic that Princess Beatrice is doing this for Unicef and Children in Crisis. Good for her!

"I'd encourage everyone to get bidding to raise as much money as possible. For once I don't mind if I don't walk away with the deal."

Several others have since topped his bid for the item. The auction finishes on May 22.

The listing on eBay describes the hat as "individual, fun and elegant", and the Princess is quoted on the page.

"I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have," she said.

Princess Beatrice's hat has divided opinion, with some people comparing the design to a turkey twizzler, a toilet seat - and even a giant pretzel.

Facebook groups have been set up in its name. Mmany doctored photos show famous faces wearing the headgear.