Princess Charlotte’s incredible £36k present she was not allowed to keep
It is unlikely Princess Charlotte has ever laid her hands on the lavish gift received when she was born.
Princess Charlotte's arrival into the world on May 2, 2015, was celebrated around the world and as with many royal births, gifts poured in from dignitaries, organisations, and well-wishers eager to mark the moment. Among those presents was one that quickly captured public attention - an extremely expensive rattle, reportedly crafted from precious materials and intended to be a keepsake.
Due to strict royal protocols, the middle child of the Prince and Princess of Wales wasn't allowed to keep this extravagant present which was reportedly worth an eye-watering £36K.
The gift in question was from Natural Sapphire Company, which gifted a costly baby rattle made from 18ct white gold and decorated with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to create a Union Jack.
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The Natural Sapphire Company explained their reasons behind the gift: "When Kate and William were engaged with the iconic blue sapphire ring that once belonged to Princess Diana, our sapphire ring sales rocketed. Women everywhere wanted to be just as fashionable as Kate. Today, we continue to grow as a business and it is with great joy that we celebrate the birth of a new royal."
They added: "We're thanking Kate and William for introducing our company to the world, by gifting a custom-designed baby rattle, fit for their Princess. Baby gifts made from precious metals are a tradition dating back to the 18th century. Our luxury rattle, worth $45,000 (£36,000), is made from 18k white gold; lined with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds to produce the Union Jack flag."
Back in 2015, it was reported that Kate probably didn't keep the precious gift as Kensington Palace has stated that gifts from businesses are generally not accepted - therefore, it's unlikely Charlotte ever got to play with it or keep it.
To celebrate her first birthday, it is stated Princess Charlotte received gifts from world leaders too - former Prime Minister David Cameron gave her a copy of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales.
The gift list, released by Kensington Palace, also included toys and clothes.
A spokeswoman for Kensington Palace at the time said William and Catherine were "incredibly grateful".
"The couple have taken a number of gifts into their home, some gifts are stored within the Royal Household, and some gifts were donated to organisations which could make good use of them," the spokeswoman added.
