Membership in the Royal Family undoubtedly comes with unique privileges, among which are receiving extraordinary gifts from dignitaries and admirers worldwide. One of the most spectacular presents bestowed upon King Charles was a £329,545 Rolls-Royce, gifted by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in May 2023 to commemorate the coronation. This luxurious vehicle is regularly used for official state duties and ceremonial occasions.
But the Rolls-Royce is far from the only lavish token presented to the monarch. During his coronation month, leaders from the Amazonian Indigenous community, Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai and Atossa Soltani, honored King Charles with a feather crown, two intricately beaded chest pieces, and two carved staffs—symbols rich in cultural significance.
In another remarkable gesture, former U.S. President Joe Biden and then-first lady Jill Biden gifted the King a leather folder containing historical letters exchanged between Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, offering a glimpse into transatlantic relations of the past.
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In April 2023, before Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, King Charles and Queen Camilla received two gold Blue Peter badges, a distinguished honor from the iconic British children’s television program.
Further illustrating the international reach of royal gifts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the King with a framed mosaic, a scroll detailing the significance of St. Sophia Cathedral, and a signed Ukrainian naval flag during a February meeting.
Looking back, Queen Elizabeth II, during her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, received a Cedar of Lebanon tree from Pope Francis, symbolizing peace and longevity. Prior to that, as an avid fan of the British soap opera Coronation Street, she was presented with a cobble from the original set, two gin glasses adorned with the Manchester skyline, a commemorative book titled “60 Years of Coronation Street,” and even a bottle of the show’s namesake gin.
Gift exchanges within the Royal Family also hold personal charm and tradition. Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, were given a toiletries set by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife Sabina in 2020. Official records from 2020 to 2023 detail many such exchanges.
Interestingly, the Royal Family traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas Eve—a custom inherited from their German ancestry—often highlighting their close-knit bonds and sense of humor. Some gifts have been delightfully unexpected, including a leather toilet seat and homemade chutney. Notably, when she first joined the Royal Family, Princess Kate prepared chutney using her grandmother’s recipe for the late Queen. Princess Anne once gifted her brother Charles a leather toilet set, while she gave her father, Prince Philip, a pepper mill fitted with a light to season food during nighttime barbecues.
These unique, varied gifts not only showcase the rich tapestry of royal relationships but also offer a fascinating window into the culture, history, and personalities within the Royal Family.