Buying presents for royals might seem a stressful and laborious affair. But many of the foreign dignitaries who received the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge abroad in 2011 more than met the challenge with an array of light-hearted mementos. Clarence House has released a list of the 200 plus gifts that Kate and William received when they were on official engagements last year.
And while there are opulent regal items like the diamond-studded brooch commissioned by Harry Winston, they are upstaged by scores of more quirky offerings. William, who travelled alone to Australia and New Zealand in the spring headed home with building fragments from the Christchurch earthquake, a trendy selection of baseball caps, and a jar of Vegemite all packed into his suitcase. In June, there was another tour on the royal agenda, this time to the US and Canada with his new bride, Catherine. That visit saw the Canadian Minister of Health present the newlyweds with mosquito traps and the governor of California gifting them an iPad fresh from Silicon Valley.Some of the presents came in handy to help the royals blend in, such as the white Stetsons they donned at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.
Details of the gifts that Prince Charles and his wife Camilla amassed during their travels were also released in the document.Their loot included cured ham from Spain, and Zulu spears and shields from their visit to Tanzania.
