Kate Middleton has witnessed how one of Princess Charlotte's biggest secrets has come to light. William's wife tried for years to hide what happened when her only daughter was born: She had to refuse a gift. It was a rattle made of 18-karat white gold, with a design of the United Kingdom flag completely covered in sparkling jewels.
The gift came from The Natural Sapphire Company, which sought to highlight its brand due to its connection with Kate and the iconic blue ring. According to protocol, William's wife had to refuse the gift to Princess Charlotte, showing her gratitude to the luxurious jewelry firm nonetheless.
Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte's best-kept secret comes to light
Last May marked 10 years since Princess Charlotte's birth. On May 2, Kate Middleton gave birth to what would be her only daughter after the birth of George and, later, Louis. All of Buckingham was captivated by the princess and the happy parents celebrated in grand style.
For days, Kate received numerous congratulations and gifts to welcome Princess Charlotte. However, there was one present that led Middleton to do something she would keep most privately. It has just come to light how the Duchess of Cambridge had to refuse a luxurious gift that Charlotte received after her birth.
We're talking about a rattle made entirely of 18-karat white gold and with a United Kingdom flag made of jewels. The piece was also adorned with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, turning that gift into a collector's item valued at £36,000. Its price exceeded $45,000; such a figure reflected the extreme luxury present in that delicate, shiny royal rattle.
The firm explained that it was their way of thanking Kate for what her wedding to William meant for them. However, the Royal Household saw a commercial intention from the company, which forced Kate to refuse it. Middleton, with great respect for the rules, explained that she couldn't accept that kind of gift, although she acknowledged the generous gesture.
Kate Middleton refused a luxurious gift for Princess Charlotte
The British Royal Household imposes a strict rule that prohibits accepting gifts of a clearly commercial nature. For this reason, Kate didn't accept the luxurious rattle that was sent to Princess Charlotte.
The international outlet The Mirror has been responsible for revealing this secret that the Princess of Wales has kept for 10 years. They did so after the Natural Sapphire Company mentioned it on their website.
Although they didn't manage to advertise their brand through the rattle, they explained the reason for such an expensive gift for Princess Charlotte. "When they got engaged with the blue sapphire ring that belonged to Lady Di, sales of our sapphire rings skyrocketed," they explained. "We thank Kate and William for introducing our company to the world by gifting them a custom-designed baby rattle," they added.
What they didn't mention is that Princess Charlotte couldn't keep that luxurious gift because Middleton couldn't accept it. They immediately returned the present, as it would have been an indirect financial benefit for the company, which would have compromised institutional integrity.
This type of regulation extends to the entire Royal Family; even Harry and Meghan had to refuse all corporate wedding offerings. Therefore, not only did Princess Charlotte go without her rattle, others also had to part with the gifts they received.