Princess Charlotte 'handed back' lavish gift worth eye-watering £36k
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Princess Charlotte, third in line to the throne, was reportedly required to return an extraordinarily extravagant gift she received as a newborn.
The ten year old princess was given a £36,000 item upon her birth to parents Prince William and Princess Kate in May 2015.
However, due to strict Royal protocols, she was unable to retain this pricey gift. The Natural Sapphire Company presented the expensive baby rattle, crafted from 18ct white gold and adorned with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to form a Union Jack.
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On their website, the company explained their decision to splurge on Princess Charlotte's birth. They said: "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.
"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.", reports the Mirror.
"Such a unique gift, unlike any they will receive from well wishes around the world, will surely be treasured."
Although Princess Charlotte was graced with an extravagant gift, it's doubtful she ever laid her hands on the posh rattle.
In 2015, speculation arose that Princess Kate may have chosen not to keep the opulent trinket. Kensington Palace remained coy about whether such a lavish present made its way to William and Kate, asserting that they typically decline corporate offerings.
Even without the fancy toy, Princess Charlotte wasn't left wanting. It's believed King Charles gave her a handcrafted willow rattle priced at a more modest £25, a less alarming choice for the young Royal to parade, and certainly easier on her parents.
Celebrating her tenth birthday last month, the Royal family commemorated the day with a fresh portrait.
Kate, using her iPhone, captured the endearing image during a Cumbria visit earlier in the year, now shared on the couple's social media to celebrate Charlotte's significant day.
In the picture, Charlotte rests on a grassy knoll, taking a breather on their hike, clad in a camouflaged Jack Pyke jacket and robust backpack.
Accompanying the image of the beaming princess were the words "Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!" complete with a heart emoji and photo credit to Kate.
(Image: Kensington Royal/The Princess of Wales)
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Princess Charlotte 'handed back' lavish gift worth eye-watering £36k
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Princess Charlotte, third in line to the throne, was reportedly required to return an extraordinarily extravagant gift she received as a newborn. The ten year old princess was given a £36,000 item upon her birth to parents Prince William and Princess Kate in May 2015. However, due to strict Royal protocols, she was unable to retain this pricey gift. The Natural Sapphire Company presented the expensive baby rattle, crafted from 18ct white gold and adorned with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to form a Union Jack. READ MORE - Edinburgh locals warn 'we will go to war over parking' if development goes ahead READ MORE - Edinburgh Council blasted over 'extremely concerning' £8m deal with convicted landlord On their website, the company explained their decision to splurge on Princess Charlotte's birth. They said: "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. "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.", reports the Mirror. "Such a unique gift, unlike any they will receive from well wishes around the world, will surely be treasured." Although Princess Charlotte was graced with an extravagant gift, it's doubtful she ever laid her hands on the posh rattle. In 2015, speculation arose that Princess Kate may have chosen not to keep the opulent trinket. Kensington Palace remained coy about whether such a lavish present made its way to William and Kate, asserting that they typically decline corporate offerings. Even without the fancy toy, Princess Charlotte wasn't left wanting. It's believed King Charles gave her a handcrafted willow rattle priced at a more modest £25, a less alarming choice for the young Royal to parade, and certainly easier on her parents. Celebrating her tenth birthday last month, the Royal family commemorated the day with a fresh portrait. Kate, using her iPhone, captured the endearing image during a Cumbria visit earlier in the year, now shared on the couple's social media to celebrate Charlotte's significant day. In the picture, Charlotte rests on a grassy knoll, taking a breather on their hike, clad in a camouflaged Jack Pyke jacket and robust backpack. Accompanying the image of the beaming princess were the words "Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte!" complete with a heart emoji and photo credit to Kate. (Image: Kensington Royal/The Princess of Wales)
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