Overview
- An official palace policy allows royals to accept gifts from people they do not personally know at public events such as the Christmas Day walkabout.
- Acceptable items include flowers, food and other consumables in reasonable quantities, as well as non‑controversial books presented by an author.
- Royals may keep items of small monetary value under £150, while gifts judged more useful elsewhere are returned to the donor.
- Official presents are documented for royal use or display and are treated as part of the Royal Collection.
- Recent experience underscores how the rules apply, with Prince Louis receiving numerous presents in 2024 and William and Kate maintaining protective practices for their children such as separate seating at formal meals until they were ready to join elders.