"LONDON—What do you give the baby who will have everything? The question faces companies and leaders around the world in advance of the birth of Britain’s future monarch.
Kate and William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, whose baby is expected any day now, have been inundated by gifts ranging from the practical to what some may see as downright bizarre.
The couple’s local Asda supermarket in north Wales, where William is based as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, has presented them with — wait for it — their very own parking space.
“The Duchess of Cambridge has graced the store with her presence several times before and we hope that the addition of her own parking space will entice her and her little prince or princess of Cambridge back to Asda,” said store manager Peter Ellis in Anglesey.
An ordinary parking space for parents with children has been decorated with crowns and the words “HRH reserved.” There’s even a man dressed up in ceremonial costume “standing guard” in the car park.
Jewelry maker Theo Fennell said he was “thrilled” to have been asked by one company to create an 18-carat white gold bracelet valued at £10,000 ($15,000) for Kate.
The glamorous trinket also has a more mundane use: it is “the world’s most luxurious nappy rash cream holder,” according to a spokeswoman for his client, Sudocrem, which makes cream for diaper rash.
The spokeswoman, acknowledging Kate was likely to receive many lovely gifts, said Sudocrem will auction the bracelet and give the proceeds to one of the charities of which Kate is patron.
Animal rights activists at PETA decided to send an imitation sheepskin rug to the couple, saying that “sheepskin blankets traditionally given to newborns in some parts of the U.K. are products of animal suffering.” For the parents, PETA included vegan caviar and “faux” gras.
Before she was ousted recently as Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard told Women’s Weekly magazine she was knitting the couple a kangaroo.
Not to be outdone, the prime minister of nearby New Zealand offered an even more unusual gift. “We’re giving them Kim Dotcom,” John Key reportedly joked at a media briefing.
German-born Dotcom, founder of file-sharing website Megaupload, is awaiting a U.S. extradition hearing from New Zealand on charges of Internet piracy. He recently exchanged words with Key at a parliamentary hearing on surveillance laws.
“First the prime minister sold me to Hollywood. Now he’s gifting me to the Royal Family. I’ll pick palace over prison,” tweeted Dotcom in response.
Finland has already sent the royal couple a baby starter kit — traditionally given to all Finnish parents — containing everything from bra pads for breastfeeding, to romper suits, condoms (really?!) and nappies. The box itself doubles up as a crib.
“We were delighted to receive the very kind gift of the maternity package from the Finnish government,” said a royal spokeswoman. “It was a very thoughtful gesture and we’re very grateful for it.”
Buckingham Palace was more reticent about other gifts, saying only that they will be “logged” and the donors will be thanked.
For those babies born to non-royal parents on the same day as the future monarch, there is also something to look forward to.
The Royal Mint has announced each child will receive a “lucky” silver penny with their year of birth and a shield of the Royal Arms in a pink or blue pouch."
It's neat that children sharing the same birthday will actually get a memento!
Maybe I should send a little gift, so that I can get a thank-you :) Apparently people who sent their congratulations on the announcement of the baby got thank-you notes from Kate herself!
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