Shopping for a princess, especially one as stylish as Kate Middleton, can be quite intimidating – even Prince William had to adjust. The Royal couple undoubtedly exchanged thoughtful presents this year at their annual Sandringham gathering.
However, during the early stages of their relationship, William was less assured in his gift-giving skills. One particular gaffe left his now-wife utterly baffled, prompting her to swear she would “never let him forget it”, reports the Mirror.
During an appearance on ex-England footballer Peter Crouch’s BBC Radio Five Live podcast, William revealed the peculiar gift. In a conversation about presents, Peter admitted to buying his model wife Abbey Clancy a raincoat three years in a row for her birthday.
That prompted William to confess: “I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once – she’s never let me forget that. That was early on in the courtship that was – I think that sealed the deal. It didn’t go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
It’s common knowledge that the royals prefer not to shower each other with extravagant, showy gifts at Christmas – instead opting for light-hearted joke presents. Owing to their Germanic heritage, they also follow traditions unfamiliar to most of us in the UK – such as exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on the actual day.
Christmas Eve is a special time for the Royal Family, who are known to sneak downstairs in the afternoon to position their presents in anticipation of 6pm, commencing a long-standing tradition of gift unwrapping. Historically, this Yuletide ceremony was presided over by Prince Philip, allowing the festivities to start.
Quirky gifts have often been exchanged, with even the late Queen receiving a humorous bath hat from Prince Harry. Kate, playing on Harry’s notable romantic escapades, once gifted him a playful ‘grow-your-own-girlfriend kit’.
