Bizarre Booty for King Charles: An Unconventional Haul of Gifts in His Coronation Year
By Smitty McPassion
Uncrowned Monarch, King Charles, Highlights Unusual Gifts Received During His Coronation Year - Strange artifacts were bestowed upon him during his coronation year.
King Charles III's coronation year brought in a slew of oddball gifts from all corners of the globe. Now, this isn't your typical diplomatic gifts list—we're talking quirky, some might even say bizarre!
Take, for instance, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan of the second series. But wait, who's the lucky gifter? None other than the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa! This bad boy is valued at a cool £355,000 and, guess what? Charles can't exactly take this baby for a Sunday drive down the block—it's only for official use, pal!
King Charles seems to have a thing for nature and wildlife, a passion that many gifts' donors took advantage of. From Germany's Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he received a mind-bending trifecta: an insect hotel, a cuckoo clock—what else?—and a framed picture of the king's first visit to Germany. How thoughtful!
Innapropriate? Perhaps, but from the Amazonian indigenous representatives, King Charles received a feather crown. A symbol of their culture, no doubt! And forget your standard tea set—from the London tradition house Smythson of Bond Street, a posh tea set fit for a thee-time monarch!
USA: Their Gifts Ain't Half Bad
The US President, Joe Biden, dished out a unique assortment of gifts. Apart from a leather-bound portfolio filled with letters between Queen Elizabeth II and Dwight D. Eisenhower—yea, vintage!—and a joint photo of the two, there was also honey from the White House garden. Yummy!
But it doesn't stop there. Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese Farm, in their kindness, bestowed upon Charles a box of cheese and homemade butter. So what if he can't exactly pop open a cold one?
A Kenyan Treat: Elephant Experiences on Tap!
While the gifts might not be entirely his to keep, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage in Kenya went all out. Gifting King Charles a certificate for the 'Baby Elephant Programme: Foster Parents of Mzinga', he can now boast about being an honorary ele-daddy!
For Your Eyes Only: The Royal Catch
Due to pandemic delays, the queen's demise, and Charles' coronation, we're only just getting this gift rundown now. Usually, the Buckingham Palace publishes an annual list, but, hey, better late than never, right?
- Enrichment Data
- Gifts of Note:
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II: A luxury vehicle valued at over £355,000, gifted by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[2][4]
- Feather Crown: Unique and culturally significant, gifted by Amazonian Indigenous leaders.[3][5]
- Etched Glass Block: An etched glass block depicting a scene of Buckingham Palace and the Royal Family, gifted by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda.[1]
- Acrylic Landscape Painting: An acrylic landscape painting by Merlene Ellis, gifted by President Irfaan Ali of Guyana.[1]
- Sculpture of a Horse: A sculpture of a horse on a marble plinth, gifted by President Katalin Novak of Hungary.[1]
- Tirolean Pine Tree: A Tirolean pine tree, gifted by President Alexander Van Der Bellen of Austria.[1]
- Ceremonial Sword: A ceremonial sword in a presentation case, gifted by President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger.[1]
- Bowl Decorated with Falcons: A bowl decorated with falcons, gifted by the Isle of Man Government and the people of the Isle of Man.[1]
These gifts reflect a mixture of cultural symbols, local craftsmanship, and personal gestures from various leaders around the world.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty sectors, considering King Charles III's coronation year saw an unusual flood of gifts in these domains.
- In the home-and-garden category, King Charles received an insect hotel, a cuckoo clock, and a framed picture of his first visit to Germany, demonstrating the confluence of tradition and nature in the gifts he received.
- The food-and-drink sector was not left behind, with the US President, Joe Biden, gifting a batch of honey from the White House garden and Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese Farm sending a box of cheese and homemade butter for the new king.
- Interestingly, the countries of travel, politics, and general news took a backseat in the bizarre haul of gifts for King Charles's coronation year, with more focus on cultural symbols and personal gestures from various leaders.
