Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be returning all their wedding gifts, and here's why
They said their vows, had their after-party and received their official new titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, so it seems that all that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to do now is go on their honeymoon. But why has it taken the newlyweds so long to jet off to celebrate their matrimonial union in private?
Well, there were a few last minute royal duties to attend to, and rumours have it that they've had to change their honeymoon destination a couple of times after the destination was leaked – which compromises security for the pair. But it might also be because they're having to sift through all their wedding gifts, as it's been reported that they're going to have to return most of them.
The couple allegedly received £7 million ($9 million) worth of gifts from friends, family and also businesses. While you can only imagine what kind of lavish trinkets and treasures the royal couple were gifted with, it turns out that they're going to have to send most of it back.
Why? Well, it's just royal protocol.
Because a lot of the gift boxes and parcels being sent to Kensington Palace are from companies hoping to get a bit of publicity if Meghan is snapped on her honeymoon wearing this bikini or that pair of sunglasses, it is their duty to reject anything that might have been gifted with the intention of helping to make profit for another business.
"When gifts are accepted, the consent of the Member of the Royal Family should be contingent upon the enterprise undertaking not to exploit the gift for commercial purposes," state the official rules from Kensington Palace about receiving gifts from businesses.
As well as that, presents sent from people who do not personally know the royal family are by default rejected, due to the fact that they could contain unknown contents that may threaten the royal's privacy or safety.
"Gifts offered by private individuals living in the UK not personally known to the Member of the Royal Family should be refused where there are concerns about the propriety or motives of the donor or the gift itself," reads another rule.
Knowing that they faced these limitations, Meghan and Harry implored guests and other well-wishers not to send gifts, and rather to donate to a list of chosen charities instead.
Although they still received a reported amount of £7 million in gifts, it seems that many people followed through with the couple's suggestion to donate to charity instead.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement saying that Canada would donate £29,000 ($38,000) to a youth charity called Jumpstart on the day of the wedding. The Prime Ministers in Australia and New Zealand also donated to charity, giving a sum to the Pillars foundation and the Invictus Games charity, respectively.
The French President Emmanuel Macron gifted the couple a special piece from St Dupont's 007 collection (French leaders traditionally gift St Dupont items at British Royal weddings), while a zoo in Australia donated to an animal charity and named two Koalas after Meghan and Harry.
Well, even though they had to return most of their gifts, it seems that they've still been showered with wonderful sentiments, and the virtuous feeling that they've been able to give back to the world after their special day.