A ROYAL family fanatic from South Kenton is thrilled to be reporting for American television on the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Margaret Tyler, 67, lives in a house that is more like a museum. Every surface of the living room is crammed with memorabilia depicting the royal family.

Comprising more than 10,000 carefully arranged royal relics - from standard plates, cups and framed pictures to bizarre Charles and Diana slippers and life-sized cut-outs - the hoard is now insured at £40,000.

Ms Tyler started collecting more than 30 years ago, with a glass dish of the Queen from a jumble sale, and admits her collection “just grew and grew”, extending into a second room dedicated to Princess Diana.

She said: “I’ve always been interested in the royal family, even as a little girl.

“I started in Covent Garden market on a Monday - they sold antiques - and I worked at Tottenham Court Road so used to rush there after work. That’s where I started buying things.

“Once I started buying I couldn’t stop. People started giving me things, my children bought me things for Christmas and birthdays. My son lives in America and buys me things you can’t get over here, so I’ve got to this stage now.”

Ms Tyler is no stranger to publicity. Her collection is world renowned and receives regular visits from fanatics all over the globe: “I had Japanese television here recently and I get coach loads of Germans mostly who want to come. I have to bring them round in fours and fives, then they sit out in the garden and I bring the next lot in.”

Margaret expects to be reporting either outside Westminster Abbey or in television studios on the South Bank on the day of the royal wedding.

However, such work is not new to the committed royalist. Reporting in the past on the Queen mother’s 100th Birthday for German TV, she can barely contain her excitement to do the same for William and Kate’s big day: “This is a biggy for me, I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know how they heard of me.

“They contacted me by phone originally, then a lady came over from New York to meet me, then they sent me a contract by Fedex. It was all very professional, I was shocked.

“It’s a thrill isn’t it? I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

Margaret hopes local residents will throw street parties to celebrate the royal wedding and is considering holding one herself before the ceremony.

She added: “I think everyone is excited about the royal wedding. I think it gives everyone a lift and there’s nothing so British as a street party, with everyone getting to know each other. I think it’s a marvellous maker of friends and I hope people will do that.

“I’d like to have one to get everyone in the mood, and my builder would put bunting up for me. You’ve got to enter into the spirit of it, because it doesn’t happen every day.”

Though running out of space to display the expected wedding paraphernalia, Margaret was disappointed when her plans for a "Will and Kate conservatory" were denied by Brent Council.

But that has not stopped the royal devotee. Despite barely being able to get to the kitchen for her cherished collection, she is determined to find space for her ever-growing love.

Margaret also anticipates the release of the book Knit Your Own Royal Wedding in March and is looking for people who can knit to help add to her collection.