THE King was given a Rolls-Royce and a pair of his ’n’ hers walking boots among hundreds of Coronation gifts, it has been revealed. Buckingham Palace published a list of official gifts to the Royal Family for the first time in five years.
Charles received 268 presents in 2023 — his Coronation year. They included a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, worth at least £355,000, from the King of Bahrain. Palace sources say the car is part of the royal state fleet of vehicles and not being used for the King’s personal travel. President Katalin Novak of Hungary gave the King and Queen two pairs of boots featuring their royal cyphers.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky presented the King with a framed mosaic, scroll and signed ship’s flag during their audience at Buckingham Palace
And Pope Francis gave him a piece of the True Cross, said to be part of the one on which Jesus Christ was crucified. On a state visit to Germany in 2022, animal-lover Charles received a wooden insect hotel and Beethoven CD from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
A bottle of gin made in Uganda was presented by its High Commission. The Governor of Tasmania offered more gin and jars of honey. Fragrance retailer J Floris of Piccadilly made the royal couple personalised scents called Charles R and Camilla R.
The King also received a gold Blue Peter badge in 2023 to reward his environmental work and support for youngsters. The Queen was awarded one for her work with literacy. The late Queen Elizabeth II received 65 presents during her Platinum Jubilee year in 2022. The Army gave the then 96-year-old, who was struggling with mobility problems, a mottled hazel walking cane.
Her final gift, a stained-glass panel to commemorate her 70th year as monarch, was received on September 5 — just three days before she died. Several royals were given biscuits. During the Covid pandemic in 2020, Princess Anne was sent hand sanitiser.
Prince Edward and wife Sophie also received a Lagos version of Monopoly on their royal tour of Nigeria in 2020. An insider said: “Gifts, where they can be, become part of the Royal Collection, where the whole nation can enjoy them.”
