Jan 14, 2015

He's the prince of presents! George amasses almost 800 gifts - including a surfboard, two dream catchers, a fluffy wombat and a toy boat - in just one year

Another one! George was presented with a wombat toy bigger than him by Sir Peter Cosgrove in Australia
Another one! George was presented with a wombat toy bigger than him by Sir Peter Cosgrove in Australia
Well-stocked: In total, George was given 219 toys by members of the public during the Australia toy
Well-stocked: In total, George was given 219 toys by members of the public during the Australia toy
Personalised: The Duke of Cambridge is given a personalised skateboard for Prince George
Personalised: The Duke of Cambridge is given a personalised skateboard for Prince George

One for later! His parents were also given an adult-sized surfboard on the little prince's behalf
In New Zealand, Prince George was given 120 gifts, among them a polo mallet and a bike, and his own miniature amphibious boat which was presented to him by manufacturers, Sealegs.
One for later! His parents were also given an adult-sized surfboard on the little prince's behalfNot every gift was given to the baby prince direct, however. His parents, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales were all given presents to pass on during separate tours.
During their visit to New York in December, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given a basket of honey, books and a cuddly toy for George by President Obama and his wife Michelle.
The visit also saw the couple presented with a miniature academic gown for George during a gala dinner on behalf of the University of St. Andrews by alumni, as well as three books, four toys and a pint-sized dressing gown.
Prince Charles, meanwhile, was inundated with gifts for his grandson during a tour of Canada with the Duchess of Cornwall in May.
Among them were a pewter teddy bear, a plastic toy camel, two dream catchers and a tartan blanket. 
But lavish though the number of gifts received by Prince George was, his parents and Prince Harry were also on the end of a significant amount of largesse.
In total, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were handed 34 gifts - plus 11 for George - during their visit to New York, with a clock, bangles and commemorative coins among the haul.
In Australia and New Zealand, the couple were presented with 16 books, 44 items of clothing, 38 games and toys, 26 pieces of jewellery and two bottles of wine, among other gifts, by members of the public alone.
Official gifts included an All Black rugby shirt, a silver and opal brooch and three carved wooden animals.
Good gift! New Zealand boat manufacturers Sealegs gave Prince George a miniature amphibious boat
Good gift! New Zealand boat manufacturers Sealegs gave Prince George a miniature amphibious boat
Baby's first bike: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are presented with a bicycle for their son
Baby's first bike: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are presented with a bicycle for their son
Haul: Prince Harry was given five football shirts and one polo shirt during his visit to Brazil in June
Haul: Prince Harry was given five football shirts and one polo shirt during his visit to Brazil in June
Unusual: The 30-year-old was given a decommissioned automatic rifle during November's trip to Oman
Unusual: The 30-year-old was given a decommissioned automatic rifle during November's trip to Oman

PICK OF THE PRESENTS: GEORGE'S MOST EXCITING GIFTS REVEALED 

While his miniature boat and industrial quantities of toys might be the most eye-catching part of George's haul, they aren't the only ones. Here are the best of the rest:
  • Baby-sized dressing gown from the Carlyle Hotel, New York
  • A plastic toy camel from a well-wisher in Canada 
  • Miniature academic gown from the University of St Andrews
  • Children's clothes and a soft toy from the Emirates Team New Zealand
  • Polo mallet from the president of Christchurch Polo Club
  • Wooden toy from Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand
  • Bucket and spade, sunglasses and sun hat from the Chief Executive of the Sydney Children's Hospital Network
  • Three soft toys from Maltese well-wishers 
  • Sheepskin boots from No. 1 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
  • Bilby soft toy from Taronga Zoo Conservation Society Australia
  • Wombat soft toy from Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General of Australia
  • Miniature Maltese Cross from Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta
  • Two dream catchers from well-wishers in Canada
  • A small size football from a well-wisher in Canada
Prince Harry, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of a more eclectic set of gifts, many of them amassed during his tour of Brazil and Chile and his visit to Oman.
A Formula 1 racing helmet, a silver cigarette box, two hats and six football shirts were presented to the prince in South America, along with a glass model of a clock tower.
Harry was given another football shirt during his trip to Italy along with a bible, and a decommissioned automatic rifle while in Oman. 
Tins of tuna, woolly hats and a model of a surface to air MISSILE: The lavish (and often bizarre) gifts given to the Queen and other royals in 2014 revealed 
They're showered with gifts wherever they go but not all the items presented to the Royal Family are quite what most would imagine.
Among the more unusual items lavished on the royals, which were revealed in a list released by Buckingham Palace, were tins of tuna, model missiles and a supermarket's worth of mangoes.
Many of the mangoes were presented to Prince Andrew, who is famously fond of the fruit, although Princess Anne was also given a box of 100 by the president of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall received the largest number of gifts, amassing 176 over the course of the year, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex who were given 136.
The Queen was presented with 102 different items, Princess Anne got 135 presents and Prince Andrew was gifted with 107.
Prince Philip got the fewest gifts and was presented with just 19, among them a gold brooch and silver spoon from the Lord Mayor of London and joint present of a case of beer from the Cotleigh Brewery and Go Commando charity.
Many of the more unusual gifts were picked up during overseas tours, with the Duke of York being presented with a model of a dhow boat during his visit to Kuwait in May and a miniature Volkswagen Beetle in Germany in June.
During their tour of Mexico and Colombia at the end of October, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were presented with a total of 43 gifts, among them a pair of maracas, a poncho and a packet of dried beef.
Global giving: The Royal Family has received items from all over the world, some unusual
Global giving: The Royal Family has received items from all over the world, some unusual
A gift fit for a Queen! Her Majesty is presented with a wooden plaque by Sierra Leonese athletes in Glasgow
A gift fit for a Queen! Her Majesty is presented with a wooden plaque by Sierra Leonese athletes in Glasgow

 

With a collection that includes cuddly wombats, toy camels, a polo mallet and even a surfboard, Prince George has no shortage of things to play with.
The 18-month-old royal received almost 800 presents in 2014 according to a gift list released by Kensington Palace this morning.
The majority of the gifts were amassed during the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand which saw George travel to the Antipodean nations alongside his parents in April.

Presents: Prince Charles was given a considerable number of gifts in Mexico including a packet of dried beef
Presents: Prince Charles was given a considerable number of gifts in Mexico including a packet of dried beef
He definitely liked it! In Colombia, Charles was given a traditional sombrero vueltiao (pictured)
He definitely liked it! In Colombia, Charles was given a traditional sombrero vueltiao (pictured)
The Earl and Countess of Wessex were the recipients of some of the most eccentric gifts, with the couple handed a jar of passion fruit jam by a well-wisher in Barbados last January and several tins of canned fish during a trip to Brandt Louie in Canada in December.
Also given to the Wessexes was a biography of Usain Bolt which was presented to them by the Jamaican sprinter himself, and a stone which was given to them by a well-wisher during a visit to the Clearwell Caves in Gloucestershire.
Some of the most impressive gifts were presented to the Queen, including a 15-piece set of Sèvres porcelain handed to the monarch by President François Hollande of France during her visit to the country in June.
The French premier also presented the Queen with a set of Hermès photo albums containing pictures of Her Majesty during previous visits to France, a white porcelain sculpture of a horse and a copy of the French edition of the London News dating from 1843 and featuring Queen Victoria.
More unusual items included a model of the infamous Iron Throne of Game of Thrones fame, a book about the Eurotunnel and a silver box containing soil from World War I battlefields.
Many of the gifts presented to the Queen came from ambassadors and were given as the diplomats presented Her Majesty with their credentials.
Such gifts include a Bumbung Perak Pahat Tumbuk jewellery case presented by Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Ami of Brunei Darussalam, a silver tray from Cambodia's Meas Kim Heng and a sculpture of a Bengal tiger from High Commissioner Mohamed Mijarul Quayes of Bangladesh.
Tempting though keeping some of the gifts might be, Buckingham Palace is at pains to point out that none of the royals are allowed to keep the presents for themselves.
'Official gifts are not the private property of the member of the Royal Family who receives them but are instead received in an official capacity in the course of official duties,' explains a palace source. 
'Perishables such as food may be personally used or consumed, while other gifts may be used or displayed in royal residences and on royal estates or become part of the Royal Collection.'
Lavish: President François Hollande of France gave the Queen a 15-piece set of Sèvres porcelain
Lavish: President François Hollande of France gave the Queen a 15-piece set of Sèvres porcelain
Miniature: During a visit to the Game of Thrones set in Belfast, the Queen was given a model Iron Throne
Miniature: During a visit to the Game of Thrones set in Belfast, the Queen was given a model Iron Throne
All official gifts presented to the Queen automatically become part of the Royal Collection and are either displayed in the royal palaces themselves or are loaned out to museums and galleries. 
Some gifts, however, have had to find more permanent homes, among them the animals presented to the Queen over the course of her reign.
These include several horses, among them Burmese who was presented to the Queen by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ridden by Her Majesty at the Trooping the Colour from 1969 to 1986. 
More exotic animals are given to London Zoo, among them jaguars and sloths from Brazil, two black beavers from Canada and a seven-year-old bull elephant called Jumbo which arrived in the UK from Cameroon in 1972.
Presents from Kuwait: During his most recent trip to the Gulf state, Prince Andrew was given a model dhow
Presents from Kuwait: During his most recent trip to the Gulf state, Prince Andrew was given a model dhow
Unusual: During a visit to Canada in December, Edward and Sophie were given tins of fish
Unusual: During a visit to Canada in December, Edward and Sophie were given tins of fish

FACT BOX TITLE

From boxes of mangoes to bronze sculptures, the gifts presented to the royal family in 2014 were a mixed bag to say the very least. Here are some of the most interesting:
THE QUEEN
  • Dressage crop from David Johnston, Governor-General of Canada
  • Traditional embroidered tablecloth presented in velvet box from Rosen Plevneliev, president of Bulgaria
  • Large wooden coffee grinder from Mazen Homoud, Ambassador of Jordan
  • The Reign of King George II 1727-1760 by Jeremy Black from Smith's Peerage Ltd
  • Bristle brush boot scraper from Felstead School
  • 15-piece Sevres porcelain tea set from President François Hollande of France
  • Wooden model of a Nauruan traditional outrigger canoe from President Baron Waqa of Nauru
  • Wooden plaque marked 'Greetings from Sierra Leone' from Sierra Leonese Commonwealth Games athletes
  • Sculpture of a Bengal tiger from Mohamed Mijarul Quayes, High Commissioner for Bangladesh
Presents: The Queen was given a set of Sevres porcelain and a sculpture of a Bengal tiger
Presents: The Queen was given a set of Sevres porcelain and a sculpture of a Bengal tiger
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
  • Gold brooch and silver spoon from the Lord Mayor of London
  • Case of beer from the Cotleigh Brewery and Go Commando Charity
  • A bust of himself from the Royal Canadian Regiment
PRINCESS ANNE
  • Cosmonaught Russian Doll from the Russian International Olympic Committee
  • Camel coloured cape from President Michael D. Higgins of the Republic of Ireland
  • Harris Tweed handbag from MacLeod of MacLeod
  • Signed Manchester City football shirt from Manchester City FC
  • Traditional coffee pot and crockery from Save the Children Ethiopia
  • Box of 100 mangoes from President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan
PRINCE ANDREW
  • Two books of Arabic recipes from Bahraini well-wisher
  • Model of a dhow from Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science
  • Two boxes of mangoes from former President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardani
  • Model of a surface-to-air missile from MBDA Systems
  • Personalised HRH mug from a well-wisher
  • Papier mache model of himself from children at Male Lambert school
  • Platter of dates from Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud, Saudi Arabian ambassador
Quirky: Sophie Wessex got several tins of tuna and Usain Bolt's autobiography
Quirky: Sophie Wessex got several tins of tuna and Usain Bolt's autobiography
Gifts galore: The Duchess of Cornwall was given a bag and a set of maracas
Gifts galore: The Duchess of Cornwall was given a bag and a set of maracas
THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX
  • Wool gloves from Airbus
  • Passion fruit jam from well-wisher in Barbados
  • Faster Than Lightening: My Autobiography by Usain Bolt from Usain Bolt
  • Stinking Bishop cheese from well-wisher in Gloucestershire
  • Tins of canned fish from well-wisher in Brandt Louie, Canada
  • White leather slippers and gilet with beadwork from town of Dididaht in Canada
  • Cider and glasses from well-wisher in Somerset
  • A stone from a well-wisher at the Clearwell Caves in Gloucestershire
PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
  • A packet of dried beef from a well-wisher in Mexico
  • Sombrero vueltiao from a well-wisher in Colombia
  • Pair of maracas from a well-wisher in Colombia
  • Two ceremonial swords from King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
  • Packet of bannock bread from well-wisher in Canada
  • Six Winnie The Pooh teddy bears from the Fort Garry Horse Regime
Thoughtful: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given ostrich eggs and pillowcases in 2014
Thoughtful: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given ostrich eggs and pillowcases in 2014
Good stuff! Prince Harry got a bottle of single malt, a bible and a case of olive oil
Good stuff! Prince Harry got a bottle of single malt, a bible and a case of olive oil
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE
  • Four pillowcases from The Carlyle Hotel New York
  • Two models of the Empire State Building from a well-wisher in New York
  • Two books and a basket of honey from President Barack Obama
  • Three bottles of wine from the Central Otago Winegrowers Association 
  • Men's clothing, a women's shirt and an Akubra Cattleman hat from Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia
  • Decorated kangaroo skin and three paintings from the Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation
  • Opal model of a car and an opal brooch from a well-wisher in Australia
  • Decorated ostrich egg from the Mayor of Kalkara in Malta
PRINCE HARRY
  • Decommissioned automatic rifle from a well-wisher in Oman
  • Case of olive oil from a well-wisher in Oman
  • Bronze model of a polo pony from a well-wisher in Abu Dhabi
  • A bible from the Chaplain General to Her Majesty's Land Forces in Italy
  • A bottle of single malt scotch whisky from a well-wisher in Italy
  • Three football shirts from the mayor of Belo Horizonte in Brazil
  • Silver cigarette box from a well-wisher in Chile