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Every year, the official gifts list provides an interesting insight
into what members of the public, companies and dignitaries give to
the most famous family in the world.
Last year Her Majesty received a pearl necklace from the President
of the United Arab Emirates and a tourmaline brooch from
Saskatchewan in Canada. Despite all of these luxury items, the
monarch also received a 13lb artillery cartridge, a chocolate
Windsor Castle and a 500 rupee banknote encased in perspex amongst
other strange items.
When the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Sri Lankia
and India last year, they received an elephant headress, a tea cosy
and lots of toys of behalf of the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge.
Whilst other members of the Royal Family were offered more
ornamental gifts, The Princess Royal received a hat with horse ears
knitted on and a book titled ‘Your Arms Remind Me of Pork Luncheon
Meat’ – when in Canada, she received when visiting
Canada, she was presented with a portrait of her riding a
moose.
Prince Harry, who visited the USA on an official tour last year was
gifted, by The First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama,
gifted a brown leather flying jacket. The Prince also received a 3D
printed doll of himself.
Some cufflinks, a bottle of beer and a morse code key mounted on
wood were among some of the gifts the Duke of Edinburgh
received.
The Duke of York received a gingerbread cathedral and a desk tidy
as well as an iPad Mini – the Duke if well known to be interested
in technology.
Princess Alexandra, The Queen’s cousin received no official gifts
in 2013, though did spend some months away from public duties due
to suffering from effects of polymyalgia rheumatica, a form of
arthritis.
Official gifts from the Royal Family are able to be used by them,
though since a few years ago they are not held in a private
capacity by members of the family. Gifts which are not used are
often donated to charities.
photo credit: Birmingham News Room via
photopin cc]]>
