Princess Charlotte had to give back a luxurious gift she got when she was born. The princess - who is now nine years old and is third in line to the throne - received a £36,000 gift as a newborn in May 2015. However, because of strict royal protocols, the Prince and Princess of Wales' middle child couldn't keep this lavish present.
The present came from the from Natural Sapphire Company, which gifted a baby rattle made from 18ct white gold and decorated with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to create a Union Jack, reports EdinburghLive . The company explained on their website why they decided to splurge for Princess Charlotte's birth. At the time, they wrote: "When Kate and William were engaged with the iconic blue sapphire ring that once belonged to Princess Diana, our sapphire ring sales rocketed.
READ MORE: "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." However, it seems that Princess Charlotte never actually played with the rattle.
Back in 2015, it was reported that Kate probably didn't keep the precious gift. Kensington Palace has stated that gifts from businesses are generally not accepted. Even if the young royal didn't hold onto the luxurious baby toy, she certainly wasn't left without any special keepsakes from her early days.
It was reported that her grandfather King Charles gifted her a handcrafted wavy willow shaker worth £25. This isn't the only special gift the monarch has given to one of his grandchildren. It was previously revealed that he had an amazing present installed at his Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House, for Prince George's first birthday.
A Victorian-style Shepherd's hut, gifted by Dorset-based company Plankbridge, includes everything from a wood-burning stove to a day bed. The hut can be seen by visitors during a guided tour through The King's gardens and is believed to be a favourite play spot for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis..
