Prince William once gave Kate Middleton a gift so “terrible” that she’s never let him forget it. “It didn’t go well,” he admitted, laughing off the memorable mishap.
Prince William has certainly given Kate Middleton many thoughtful gifts over their two decades together, but there’s one present that was so “awful” it has stuck with him ever since.
The gift in question was given early in their relationship when both were students at the University of St. Andrews, where they met in 2001. At that time, as The Mirror noted, William was less confident in his gift-giving skills, and one particular choice left his girlfriend perplexed.
During an interview on BBC Radio Five Live, William recalled the moment with a laugh. “I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once — she’s never let me forget that,” he admitted. “That was early on in the courtship — I think that sealed the deal,” he joked. “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.”
The royal family, known for their unique gift-giving traditions, often opts for humorous or quirky presents rather than extravagant ones. On Christmas Eve, for instance, they exchange gag gifts. Prince Harry once gifted Queen Elizabeth a shower cap that read, “Ain’t life a bitch.”
Kate Middleton also got in on the fun, gifting Harry a “Grow Your Own Girlfriend Kit” before his relationship with Meghan Markle became public.
Speaking of Meghan, when she joined the royal family for her first Christmas at Sandringham in 2017, she gave William a novelty spoon with «cereal killer» embossed on it, a gift that was a big hit. Royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, in their book *Finding Freedom*, noted that gift-giving for Meghan was “an audition like no other,” and she wanted to impress her new family with her thoughtful, and humorous, gifts.
In 2020, after stepping back from royal duties, Meghan gave Harry a Christmas ornament depicting Queen Elizabeth. However, their son Archie accidentally broke the ornament, as Harry humorously mentioned in his memoir *Spare*.
While royal gifts can certainly be sentimental—like when Kate gave Queen Elizabeth homemade chutney for Christmas in 2011—they often have a cheeky twist.
