Princess Charlotte was once given a lavish and luxurious baby toy—but she’s unlikely to have ever laid her hands on it, The Daily Express reports.
The gift? An 18-karat white gold rattle lined with numerous gems—Sapphires! Rubies! Diamonds!—that create a Union Jack flag. Its price tag? Just a mere $45,182. (Yes. For a rattle.)
The gift was given to baby Charlotte when she was born in 2015 by the Natural Sapphire Company. It was a thank you to Charlotte’s parents, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, because after they became engaged in 2010 (and with Princess Diana’s well-known sapphire and diamond engagement ring on her finger) sales of sapphire engagement rings went through the roof, as women tried to replicate Kate’s ring.
“When Kate and William were engaged with the iconic blue sapphire ring that once belonged to Princess Diana, our sapphire ring sales rocketed,” the company said at the time on its website. “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 [Charlotte]. We’re thanking Kate and William for introducing our company to the world by gifting a custom-designed baby rattle fit for their princess.”
The company continued “Baby gifts made from precious metals are a tradition dating back to the 18th century. Our luxury rattle, worth $45,000, 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 wishers around the world, will surely be treasured.”
At the time, Kensington Palace (where the family’s offices are held, and where the family was living at the time) could not confirm whether the rattle was received by William and Kate, but it likely wasn’t—as a general rule, it said, gifts from commercial companies are not accepted.
Somehow, this wasn’t even Charlotte’s most extravagant gift. That came from the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who made a $100,000 donation to Immunize Canada, a vaccination charity, in her name when she was a year old; he also gave her a more reasonably priced snowsuit, and a book.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Juxtapose those gifts with her grandfather King Charles’ offering: His Majesty also bought Charlotte a rattle, a willow one by Irish basket maker Ciaran Hogan. This rattle, for its part, cost just $31.89. Charlotte’s aunt Pippa Middleton also went the practical route, gifting her only niece biodegradable diapers made from natural mull cloth, which cost just around $6.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Hilary Duff Welcomes 3rd Child With Husband Matthew Koma
Townes is her fourth child overall.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Upgrade Your Vacation Wardrobe With Summer Staples From Shopbop and Nordstrom Rack
Next stop: The airport.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Well, Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ Might Not Be Completely Done After All
The success of ‘Scoop’ is reportedly prompting the streaming giant’s bosses to bring ‘The Crown’ back in a new, interesting form after the show concluded last year.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
At School, Princess Charlotte Is a Rule Follower, But Is “Fiery” at Home, Constantly Putting Her Brothers In Their Place
The only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales turned nine last week.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Charlotte Turns 9—See the Sweet Photo Taken by Mom Kate
Wait, she's 9??? Then how old am I?????
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
When Princess Charlotte Was Given a Crown on the Set of ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ Prince Louis Demanded One, Too
“So we had to go and find him a little crown.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Told Princess Charlotte's Favorite Joke, And I'm Cackling
Help, I have the sense of humor of an 8-year-old.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis “Are Following Some New Rules” at Home to Help Make Life Easier for Princess Kate
As their mother receives treatment for cancer, the Wales trio is reportedly pitching in and taking on some extra chores around the house.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
As Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Absorb the News of Their Mother’s Cancer Diagnosis, a Longtime Family Friend Notes Their “Extraordinary Resilience”
The Wales family of five are taking time together privately as Princess Kate recovers.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Does Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day Photo Controversy Mean We Won’t Be Getting Personal Photos from the Wales Family Anymore?
It has become a cherished tradition over the years.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Have Been Aware of Princess Kate’s Health Issues the Entire Time and “Will Get Through This Together”
Kensington Palace announced this morning that Kate had been discharged from The London Clinic after nearly two weeks there.
By Rachel Burchfield Published