Anyone who has even been to a close friend’s wedding will know all too well the tribulations of choosing a gift suitable for 'the couple who has everything'.
A burnt orange Creuset pot? They have two. Matching Away luggage? They bought some last year. Money towards the honeymoon? It’s already paid for.
But, spare a moment for guests of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding as it’s just been revealed that the newlyweds have been forced to return some of their wedding gifts.
The Express reports Kensington Palace has received gift boxes and parcels for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from companies and celebrities with a combined estimated value of £7 million, which must be returned.
Official guidelines that prevent royals from being exploited for commercial purposes state: ‘Gifts offered by commercial enterprises in the UK should normally be declined, unless they are offered as a souvenir of an official visit to the enterprises' premises, to mark a Royal marriage or other special personal occasion. When gifts are accepted, the consent of the Member of The Royal Family should be contingent upon the enterprise undertaking not to exploit the gift for commercial purposes.
'Gifts offered by private individuals living in the UK not personally known to the Member of The Royal Family should be refused where there are concerns about the propriety or motives of the donor or the gift itself.'
It makes sense then that the newlyweds specifically requested well-wishers to donate to a list of chosen charities close to their hearts, rather than sending presents, before their nuptials.
On the day of their wedding, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on May 19 - the day of the wedding - the country will donate £29,000 ($50,000 ) to a youth charity called Jumpstart dedicated to making play and sports more accessible to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden told reporters that on behalf of the country, New Zealand was making a £2,500 ($5,000 NZ) donation to a charity the supports children and families of prisoners called Pillars.
However, other global leaders took a more creative interpretation of the wish for donations.
French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly gave the Royal couple a bespoke piece from ST Dupont’s 007 collection, while the Taronga Zoo in New South Wales, Australia revealed they would name two koalas after the couple and donate £2,800 to ‘preserving koala habitats’.
Kensington Palace has not revealed how much money has been raised in donations.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
