From books and baskets to coins, quilts and mosquito traps, the royal newlyweds were showered with a fascinating assortment of gifts during their time in the Canadian limelight last year.
Clarence House has just gone public with lists of the gifts given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their official trips overseas in 2011, enumerating all the presents given to the couple by everyone from anonymous members of the public to heads of state.
Prince William, for example, left Canada with a tartan waistcoat, several shirts and a pair of cufflinks. He was also given a Royal Canadian Air Force flying helmet and a Canadian Ranger Patrol knife. And to keep track of all his new friends, William received an address book from a member of the public and a pen from the president of the Port of Montreal Authority.
His wife the Duchess of Cambridge had even more to keep track of, with a bounty of gifts including necklaces, brooches, scarves and two fascinators -- one tartan, the other peacock feather.
Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird gave Kate three pairs of shoes, that may or may not have co-ordinated with the blue hat she received from Alberta's Health minister.
The couple also came away with several souvenirs of their adventures together, including two black hoodies from the Calgary Rotary Challenge Park, T-shirts and a small flag from the fire department in Slave Lake and two chef's jackets from l'Institut de Tourisme at D'Hotellerie in Montreal.
Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Canada Governor General David Johnston played it safe -- and perhaps a touch ho hum -- with his presentation of a quilt and a commemorative album. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq's offering was safe, but in a more practical-for-a-summertime-tour-of-Canada way: two mosquito traps.
And what did our prime minister give the happy couple? Besides a woollen blanket, framed photo and collection of "souvenir edition" Canadian magazines, Stephen Harper also gifted a couple of jackets, a Maple Leaf flag and a bottle of whiskey. No word on the brand, although Canada's Crown Royal comes to mind.
An assortment of books, photos, commemorative coins and artwork round out the list of souvenirs from William and Kate's first official overseas trip.
The list of gifts the couple received after they left Canada for the U.S. is much shorter, which is understandable given that they were only in California for three days. They nevertheless left the golden state with a bounty featuring a set of coasters from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner and an iPad from California Governor Jerry Brown.
It's uncertain whether the royal couple ever got to play with their iPad, however, as all gifts given to the royals are registered then put in storage or on display in the royal residences.
Following their marriage in April, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Canada and the U.S. between June 20 and July 10. The North American trip was not their only overseas trip of 2011, however.
During their March tour of New Zealand and Australia, they were given a similar assortment of gifts highlighted by inscribed building fragments from the earthquake in Christchurch.
The lists released by Clarence House also detail official gifts received by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during their trips in 2011.
During their springtime visit to Portugal, Spain and Morocco, Charles and Camilla's gifts included a decorative tile arrangement from the president of Portugal, a cured ham from Spain's environment minister and a fountain pen from the Morrocan royals.
When they toured Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa and Tanzania in the fall, the prince and duchess had to make room in their luggage for a wrist watch and two silk rugs from the Kuwaiti royal family, a commemorative dish from the royal family of Qatar, a traditional pot from the Zulu royal family and some carved wood from the president of Zanzibar.
