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CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses suicide and mental health.
On an official visit to the Maidenhead Rugby Club, Princess Catherine received an emotional gift from mother and Maidenhead coach Sarah Renton.
Renton shared that her 17-year-old daughter Issy had recently taken her own life, and gifted the Princess of Wales with a pair of earrings that had been crafted to honour the memory of Renton’s daughter.
The Princess sincerely thanked Issy’s mother for her gift and promised her she would wear the earrings. With the royal family receiving multiple gifts throughout their official engagements, what do they do with them once they return to the palace?
Scroll down to find out more about what the royal family does with their gifts.
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The Princess of Wales seen hugging Sarah Ronton, who gifted the Princess a pair of earrings in memory of her late daughter Issy.
(Image: Getty)Gifts received by the royal family are classified as either official or personal gifts.
An official gift is any gift received by the royal family that is connected to their official duties. Official gifts include those given by fans and businesses that the members of the royal family do not personally know or have an affiliation with.
The royal family’s gifting policy lists multiple categories of items that they are able to accept, including “flowers, foodstuff and other consumable items, copies of books presented by the author, provided the subject matter is not controversial,” and other small items with a value of less than £150.
Official gifts also include gifts from public officials, dignitaries, and heads of state however, any gifts given to the royal family by heads of state automatically become a part of the Royal Collection Trust.
Gifts received in an official capacity are unable to be sold or traded by the royal family however, they are free to wear, use, or display any gift they receive that has been deemed an official gift.
The royal family are able to accept small items from the public, such as cards and flowers.
(Image: Getty)Personal gifts are classed as gifts members of the royal family receive from people that they know personally and in a private capacity, such as immediate family, friends, and relatives.
The royal family are still able to accept gifts from people they have a formal relationship with, such as palace staff, during special occasions, provided the gift has a value of under £150.
The royal family made revisions to their gifting policy in 2003, following Princess Diana’s butler, Paul Burrell, being charged with theft of over 310 items from Princess Diana’s private collection.
Burrell claimed that he had previously told Queen Elizabeth II that he was in possession of the items for safe-keeping, following which all further charges were dropped. Despite the trial not continuing, the case prompted the royal family to incorporate record keeping clauses in their official gifting policy to ensure all distributed personal affects are accounted for.
The royal family are able to wear, use, and display any official gifts.
(Image: Getty)