Meghan Markle receives first official Royal gift: an apron
Their relationship blossomed over home cooked meals, and Prince Harry popped the question over a roast chicken supper.
What better way for Meghan Markle to be welcomed into the business of the Royal Family, then, than with her first official gift: an apron.
Ms Markle has made her debut on the annual list of gifts received by members of the Royal Family, with an apron presented to the Duke of Cambridge to pass on by a member of the public.
The Duke had been making a solo visit to Finland in November, while his brother and future sister-in-law celebrated their engagement in London.
The gift list offers scant details on the present, noting just that it was from an “individual” and was received by the Duke “on behalf of HRH Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle”.
It is the first time Ms Markle has been named on the audit, following an altogether more circumspect entry, in September, while Prince Harry was in Toronto for the Invictus Games.
Then, as the couple were not engaged, Ms Markle spent the trip apart from the Prince in public, save for one appearance together at the tennis and a relaxed moment in a private box at the closing ceremony.
Prince Harry’s list of gifts, however, records a set of his’n’hers accessories for the couple, presented by a wellwisher and including: “Two jackets, two leather holdall bags, two leather belt-bags, two leather zipped pouches, two leather passport holders, four leather wristbands, two ice hockey pucks, two baseball caps, two t-shirts and two sports polo shirts.”
Ms Markle, who has previously spoken about her love of vegan leather, has not yet been spotted in public with any of the gifts.
Among presents received by other members of the Royal Family were armfuls of items for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, including 59 presents from their week-long visit to Poland and Germany.
Even the Duchess of Cambridge’s third baby, due in April, was not left out, with the family taking home three “soft toy baby's sleep aids” in preparation for the newborn.
The Duke of Edinburgh was given several gifts he may be able to make use of in retirement, from a travel backgammon set by luxury brand Smythson and some whisky from his Duke of Edinburgh Award team.
A bugle, presented by The Rifles, was also accepted.
The Queen received glittery baubles for her Christmas tree, a purple fleece dog bed for her corgis and and the Union Flag from Major Tim Peake's spacesuit.
She was also given an ostrich egg decorated with Maasai beadwork as a 91st birthday present from the Kenyan president, a decoration containing Enigma machine paper from GCHQ, and copies of love letters between Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenburg and King Alfonso XIII of Spain between 1905-6 from the Spanish Royal Family.
In a long list of presents, Prince George and Princess Charlotte received 17 soft toys, two lollipops, three toy trains, a toy pram, three dresses, two pairs of socks and a dreamcatcher.
Official gifts can be worn and used, but are not considered the personal property of the Royal recipient.
The Royals do not pay tax on them, can eat any food they are given and pass perishable official gifts with a value less than £150 to charity or staff.
Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust by the Queen for her successors and the nation.
The rules on official presents were tightened following the Peat inquiry in 2003 into the sale of royal gifts and the running of St James's Palace.
