Being a member of the Royal Family certainly comes with its perks, including some rather unexpected gifts. One of the most extravagant presents received by King Charles was a Rolls-Royce, gifted to him by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The luxury vehicle, worth approximately £329,545, was presented in May 2023 as a coronation gift.
The opulent car is reportedly used for official duties, including state occasions. However, this isn't the only lavish gift he's received. In his coronation month, Amazonian Indigenous leaders Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai and Atossa Soltani bestowed upon the monarch a feather crown, two beaded chest pieces and two carved staffs, according to Sky News.
Former US president Joe Biden and then-first lady Jill Biden also presented the King with a leather folder containing printed letters exchanged between Queen Elizabeth II and former president Dwight D Eisenhower, reports the Mirror.
In April of that year, during a visit to Liverpool ahead of the city hosting Eurovision, King Charles and Queen Camilla were awarded two gold Blue Peter badges by the show's presenters.
But the list doesn't end there - during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy in February, the King was given a framed mosaic, a scrolled document about St Sophia Cathedral and a signed Ukrainian ship's flag.
In 2022, marking her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a Cedar of Lebanon tree by Pope Francis. The previous year, during a visit to the Coronation Street set in Greater Manchester, she was gifted a cobble from the original set encased in a presentation box.
The Queen, an avid Corrie fan, also received two gin glasses featuring a silhouette design of the Manchester skyline, a book titled '60 Years Of Coronation Street', and a bottle of Coronation Street gin.
In 2020, Prince William and Kate, then Duchess of Cambridge, were both given a toiletries set by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, and his wife Sabina Higgins. These details are according to official records, which document official gifts to most members of the Royal family from 2020 to 2023.
Interestingly, the Royal Family exchange gifts on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, a tradition rooted in their German heritage. The nature of these gifts often provides insight into their family dynamics and sense of humour.
Over time, some unusual presents have included a toilet seat and homemade chutney, as reported by Hello magazine.
When she first became part of the Royal Family, Princess Kate gave the late Queen some homemade chutney, using her grandmother's recipe. Princess Anne once gifted her brother Charles a leather toilet set.
She also once presented her father, Prince Phillip, with a pepper mill equipped with a light at the end, enabling him to season his food during barbecues when it was dark.
Gloucestershire Live WhatsApp Breaking News and Top Stories
Join Gloucestershire Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone
Gloucestershire Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Gloucestershire Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
