The purple shade, Love Symbol #2, was inspired by the custom-made Yamaha purple piano that was scheduled to tour with Prince on his Piano and Microphone tour before his death on April 21 last year.

"We are honoured to have worked on the development of Love Symbol #2, a distinctive new purple shade created in memory of Prince, the purple one," the Pantone colour institute said in a statement.

Dubbed the “Colour” or “Flower” revolutions, in reference to the symbols that were often used by opposition movements, these upheavals saw the ouster of Soviet-era leaders whose rule they ...