Prince William receives gift from robot at Oxford University
Buckingham Palace has released new records of items given to the Royal Family from 2020 to 2023, giving a rare glimpse into what they have received as gifts throughout the years.
The lists outline the official gifts presented to Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
The gifts – which range from a set of toiletries, to bottles of alcohol and pairs of cufflinks – came from heads of state, their patronages and other organisations with which they have a relationship, plus also when out at official engagements.
During the first year of his reign, Charles was given a Rolls-Royce, a Blue Peter badge, and a feather crown, among other things.
In May 2023, the King received a Coronation gift in the form of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II motor car from the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The Royal Family have received a number of gifts over the years (Image: Getty)
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It would not be for personal use, but only for official purposes such as state occasions.
Also in May, Charles received a feather crown, two beaded chest pieces and two carved staffs from Amazonian Indigenous leaders Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai and Atossa Soltani.
A month earlier, the King received two gold Blue Peter badges, one each for himself and Camilla, from Blue Peter presenters during a “Pre-Eurovision” visit to Liverpool.
As a Coronation gift, the then-president of the United States, Joe Biden, and then-first lady, Dr Jill Biden, gave Charles a leather folder containing printed letters between Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower inviting him to the United Kingdom, with a photograph of the visit.
In 2023, Charles also received a tea set from Smythson of Bond Street and a cutlery set from the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr.
Meanwhile, in 2021, the late Queen received a set of gifts connected to one of the nation’s favourite television programmes.
King Charles received a Rolls-Royce for his Coronation (Image: Getty)
During a visit to the Coronation Street set in Greater Manchester, Elizabeth received a cobble from the original set in a presentation case, two gin glasses with Manchester skyline silhouette design and a selection of themed gifts including a book entitled 60 Years Of Coronation Street and a bottle of Coronation Street gin.
She also received gifts from President Biden and the First Lady – an engraved specially commissioned Tiffany sterling silver box and a floral brooch – during tea at Windsor Castle.
In 2022, the year of her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen received a Cedar of Lebanon tree from Pope Francis as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
Back in 2020, Prince William and Princess Kate each received a toiletries set from the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins, during an official visit to the Republic of Ireland.
During that trip, they also each received GAA club jerseys as well as a bottle of whiskey and two whiskey tumblers.
In the same year, they also received various books, clothes and soft toys for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
In 2022, the couple received snorkelling gear during a royal tour of the Caribbean. They each received a snorkel set, a wetsuit, a pair of diving fins and a swimming cap.
Official gifts can be worn and used, but are not considered the royals’ personal property. The royals do not pay tax on them.
They can eat any food they are given, and perishable official gifts with a value of less than £150 can be given to charity or staff.
Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust for successors and the nation.
The rules on official presents were tightened following the Peat Inquiry in 2003 into the sale of royal gifts and the running of St James’s Palace.
Charles’s then-most-trusted aide, his former valet Michael Fawcett, faced allegations of selling unwanted royal gifts and pocketing a percentage of the proceeds, but was cleared by an internal inquiry of any financial misconduct.
