Unusual Royal Gifts For The Prince And Princess
Posted on 1 February 2012 by Wendy Stenberg-Tendys in Society
What gift do you give to people, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who already have everything?
During their recent travels, the royal couple Prince William and Princess Catherine received some very unusual gifts.
In New Zealand an unknown doner gave Prince William an apron. Perhaps they thought he might need it if ever he managed to get behind the tongs at a barbecue.
While in Australia, the royal couple were given a jar of vegemite. This popular condiment is created from brewer’s yeast extract, spices and pureed vegetables. To the uninitiated it has a bitter taste, rather like beef bouillon.
A papier-mache cassowary is a gift everyone wants, or at least that is what an unidentified Australian fan thought. The cassowary is the world’s most dangerous bird. It is able to fatally hit out at humans, if it feels threatened. The birds can grow to just under 2 metres in height, and weigh around 32 kilos.
The Sheriff-Coroner of Santa Barbara County handed the royals a set of four drink coasters.
During the couple’s visit to Canada the Canadian Minister of Health gave the couple two mosquito traps.
On the other end of the scale the princess was given a designer platinum brooch, set with 302 stones.
From all-American baseball caps to cowboy hats, a helmet, or an Australian Akubra for the Prince, to glamorous fascinators (head wear) for Kate, the couple were presented with at least 20 different kinds of hats on their first overseas tour.
Henry VIII began the official exchange of gifts, when he exchanged gifts with Francis I. Since then it has been customary for the Royal Family to receive a gift from every foreign country they visit, in return for giving one themselves.
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth has recieved gifts such as a jaguar, (animal) two sloths from Brazil, a canary from Germany, several horses from various countries and an elephant from the Cameroon. Most of the animals given to the Queen reside at the London Zoo.
While all gifts received in an official capacity in America ends up in the nation’s archives. Offical gifts given to any member of the royal family is allowed to be used by the recipient for their personal use, until the time of their death, when the gift reverts back to the soverign.
