Why Princess Charlotte had to give back her extravagant £36,000 newborn gift

Princess Charlotte, at the tender age of nine and third in line to the throne, has returned an incredibly lavish gift she received as a newborn. The young Royal was presented with a £36,000 item upon her birth to parents Prince William and Princess Kate in May 2015.

However, due to stringent Royal protocols, she was unable to retain this expensive present. The Natural Sapphire Company gifted the costly baby rattle, crafted from 18ct white gold and embellished with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to form a Union Jack.

The company elucidated on their website why they chose to splurge for Princess Charlotte’s birth. They penned: “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.”

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“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.”

“Such a unique gift, unlike any they will receive from well wishes around the world, will surely be treasured.”, reports the Mirror.

Yet, despite the opulent gesture for their little princess, it seems Princess Charlotte may have never held the elaborate rattle.

Back in 2015, whispers hinted it was highly doubtful Kate Middleton would retain the offering. Kensington Palace couldn’t confirm whether William and Kate actually received the luxurious baby toy, citing a standard policy of not accepting gifts from commercial businesses, as explained by the Express.

Even if the young princess didnt keep the costly trinket, she didn’t go without. Gossip suggests Prince Charles gifted her a modest £25 hand-crafted willow rattle a far less extravagant but still sweet alternative for the youngster to carry, and certainly less worry for her parents.

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