Battle Royal

What will you get when you bring together one of the world’s hottest toys with one of the world’s most popular princesses?

Mayhem.

That’s what shop owners across the country are predicting next week when Ty Inc. gives them each only a dozen Beanie Baby royal purple bears named for the late Princess Diana. The bears feature a white embroidered rose and matching purple satin ribbon.

“I bet some stores are preparing for a riot,” said Lola Cardenas, manager of Sue’s Hallmark. The downtown Chicago store normally carries Beanie Babies, but the store’s owner decided not to order the Diana bears because of the limited quantity, Cardenas said Friday.

“People have been calling already, wondering if they can line up for them,” she said. “But with only 12 customers getting them, it’s kind of hard to come up with a plan.”

The hot-selling toys, whose recommended price is between $4.99 and $6.99, could go for much more. Some store owners said they will let customers enter raffles for the Diana bear, while others plan to auction them--with proceeds going to local charities or the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

Ty spokeswoman Anne Nickels said she did not know how many Diana bears were being distributed in all, but noted the company plans to produce and distribute more after the new year.

Ty, based in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, also said it will donate profit it receives from merchants for the Diana Beanie Baby to the memorial fund established by her family for her charities.