'Personal' birthday gift Kate Middleton could receive from King Charles and Queen Camilla
The Princess of Wales will celebrate her 44th birthday this Friday
Kate Middleton is set to celebrate her 44th birthday on January 9, and a former royal butler has shed light on how the royal family may mark the occasion, and the kind of thoughtful, personal gifts she might receive from King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked closely with King Charles, has offered new insights into the birthday traditions of the Firm.
He revealed that the monarch is likely to mark the day with a “private dinner” for his daughter-in-law, and possibly even a thoughtful, sentimental gift.
Kate Middleton’s birthday celebrations
“All royal birthdays are celebrated in some shape and form,” Harrold explained to Heart Bingo.
While grand gatherings aren’t the norm, the king usually hosts a “private dinner” and Kate’s birthday would be no exception.
Harrold said it’s “almost guaranteed” that King Charles will host something for her. That could be on the day itself or during a weekend in the Cotswolds.
He said: “There’ll be a celebration, and food-wise, she’ll be eating some of the things that she likes.”
Behind the scenes, the palace staff also play a significant part.
“If the king does put on a dinner for Kate, it’d be the butlers and maybe people drafted… to come and help,” Harrold explained. Their role? To ensure the event runs smoothly.
Planning for these events is simple but thoughtful. “It certainly would have been discussed over the last few weeks,” he added.
‘Personal’ gift Kate could receive from King Charles and Queen Camilla
As for the presents, Harrold believes Kate is likely to receive a “personal” gift from King Charles, possibly something with deep family ties.
“The king would normally give a personal gift – something from his private collection of things that he likes to give people. It could also be something personal to do with his mother or grandmother,” he shared.
There’s even a chance the gift could come from the Royal Collection. It also could be something more down-to-earth, like “a bench or some roses for her garden”. The emphasis, he said, is always on meaning rather than extravagance.
It could also be something personal to do with his mother or grandmother.
Queen Camilla will also likely be a part of the gesture. Harrold noted that “the king and queen would definitely give a joint gift”.
In keeping with royal tradition, this could include pieces that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II or carry a symbolic family history.
“When he was Prince of Wales, he would give things that had the insignia on them, depending on who it was,” Harrold said, suggesting the same thoughtful approach might continue now that Charles is king.
What Prince William could gift his wife
And what about the Prince of Wales? Harrold said he expects William to strike a balance between heartfelt and humorous.
“It could either be something jewellery-based, or it could be something that she needs for the home,” he said. But a touch of humour isn’t out of the question. “The royals like to give silly presents.”
That said, joke gifts are often accompanied by something more luxurious. Harrold suggested that it would likely be followed up with a piece of jewellery or a lavish vacation.
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