‘Personal’ birthday gift Kate Middleton could receive from King Charles and Queen Camilla
Kate Middleton is set to celebrate her 44th birthday on January 9, and a former royal butler has shed light on how the royal family may mark the occasion, and the kind of thoughtful,Ā personal gifts she might receiveĀ from King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked closely with King Charles, has offered new insights into the birthday traditions of the Firm.
He revealed that the monarch is likely to mark the day with a āprivate dinnerā for his daughter-in-law, and possibly even a thoughtful, sentimental gift.
The Princess of Wales will celebrate her 44th birthday this Friday (Credit: Chryslene Caillaud/PsnewZ/ZUMA Press/Cover Images)
Kate Middletonās birthday celebrations
āAll royal birthdays are celebrated in some shape and form,ā Harrold explained toĀ Heart Bingo.
While grand gatherings arenāt the norm, the king usually hosts a āprivate dinnerā and Kateās birthday would be no exception.
Harrold said itās āalmost guaranteedā that King Charles will host something for her. That could be on the day itself or during a weekend in the Cotswolds.
He said: āThereāll be a celebration, and food-wise, sheāll be eating some of the things that she likes.ā
Behind the scenes, the palace staff also play a significant part.
āIf the king does put on a dinner for Kate, itād be the butlers and maybe people drafted⦠to come and help,ā Harrold explained. Their role? To ensure the event runs smoothly.
Planning for these events is simple but thoughtful. āIt certainly would have been discussed over the last few weeks,ā he added.
Royal experts have suggested that she may receive a personal gift from her in-laws (Credit: Cover Images)
āPersonalā gift Kate could receive from King Charles and Queen Camilla
As for the presents, Harrold believes Kate is likely to receive a āpersonalā gift from King Charles, possibly something with deep family ties.
āThe king would normally give a personal gift ā something from his private collection of things that he likes to give people. It could also be something personal to do with his mother or grandmother,ā he shared.
Thereās even a chance the gift could come from theĀ Royal Collection. It also could be something more down-to-earth, like āa bench or some roses for her gardenā. The emphasis, he said, is always on meaning rather than extravagance.
It could also be something personal to do with his mother or grandmother.
Queen Camilla will also likely be a part of the gesture. Harrold noted that āthe king and queen would definitely give a joint giftā.
In keeping with royal tradition, this could include pieces that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II or carry a symbolic family history.
āWhen he was Prince of Wales, he would give things that had the insignia on them, depending on who it was,ā Harrold said, suggesting the same thoughtful approach might continue now that Charles is king.
The Prince of Wales is likely to get Kate a special gift (Credit: Cover Images)
What Prince William could gift his wife
And what about the Prince of Wales? Harrold said he expects William to strike a balance between heartfelt and humorous.
āIt could either be something jewellery-based, or it could be something that she needs for the home,ā he said. But a touch of humour isnāt out of the question. āThe royals like to give silly presents.ā
That said,Ā joke giftsĀ are often accompanied by something more luxurious. Harrold suggested that it would likely be followed up with a piece of jewellery or a lavish vacation.