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What are the rules on gifts for the royal family? What are the rules on gifts for the royal family?
(14 days later)
Embarrassing incidents expose how existing policy allows secrecy, obfuscation and sell-offsEmbarrassing incidents expose how existing policy allows secrecy, obfuscation and sell-offs
What are the rules on gifts for the royal family?What are the rules on gifts for the royal family?
The policy on the receipt of gifts by the royal family was drawn up in 1995 and most recently updated in 2003. It is less a set of rules and more a policy or set of guidelines about how the family should behave.The policy on the receipt of gifts by the royal family was drawn up in 1995 and most recently updated in 2003. It is less a set of rules and more a policy or set of guidelines about how the family should behave.
Broadly, it divides gifts into two categories: official and personal.Broadly, it divides gifts into two categories: official and personal.
What are official gifts?What are official gifts?
Official gifts are those received by the family in connection with their official duties, or those sent in by businesses or individuals they do not personally know. They include those received from officials or dignitaries, such as other heads of state or elected representatives, during state visits or other official functions. They are not the family members’ private property.Official gifts are those received by the family in connection with their official duties, or those sent in by businesses or individuals they do not personally know. They include those received from officials or dignitaries, such as other heads of state or elected representatives, during state visits or other official functions. They are not the family members’ private property.
Official gifts cannot be sold or traded. They can be worn or used by members of the royal family, or placed on public display in palaces. Items given to the monarch from another head of state or government automatically become part of the royal collection, an institution set up to manage the country’s royal heritage. Otherwise, they go into storage.Official gifts cannot be sold or traded. They can be worn or used by members of the royal family, or placed on public display in palaces. Items given to the monarch from another head of state or government automatically become part of the royal collection, an institution set up to manage the country’s royal heritage. Otherwise, they go into storage.
What are personal gifts?What are personal gifts?
Personal gifts are those from people whom members of the royal family know in a private capacity, and that are not given in connection with an official engagement or duty. These can be of any value. They are owned by the family member privately.Personal gifts are those from people whom members of the royal family know in a private capacity, and that are not given in connection with an official engagement or duty. These can be of any value. They are owned by the family member privately.
Gifts from those with whom they have some sort of formal relationship, such as royal warrant holders, are also considered personal, but only if they are worth less than £150. Anything more valuable is an official gift.Gifts from those with whom they have some sort of formal relationship, such as royal warrant holders, are also considered personal, but only if they are worth less than £150. Anything more valuable is an official gift.
Cost of the crown is an investigation into royal wealth and finances. The series, published ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, is seeking to overcome centuries of secrecy to better understand how the royal family is funded, the extent to which individual members have profited from their public roles, and the dubious origins of some of their wealth. The Guardian believes it is in the public interest to clarify what can legitimately be called private wealth, what belongs to the British people, and what, as so often is the case, straddles the two.Cost of the crown is an investigation into royal wealth and finances. The series, published ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, is seeking to overcome centuries of secrecy to better understand how the royal family is funded, the extent to which individual members have profited from their public roles, and the dubious origins of some of their wealth. The Guardian believes it is in the public interest to clarify what can legitimately be called private wealth, what belongs to the British people, and what, as so often is the case, straddles the two.
• Read more about the investigation• Read more about the investigation
• Fund Guardian investigative journalism that uncovers the secrets of the powerful that we all need to know
What information is available about the official gifts received?What information is available about the official gifts received?
Very little. Every year, the palace publishes a list of the gifts received in the previous year, but it deletes older information at the same time. There is no public database of official gifts, making them almost impossible to trace without the cooperation of the palace.Very little. Every year, the palace publishes a list of the gifts received in the previous year, but it deletes older information at the same time. There is no public database of official gifts, making them almost impossible to trace without the cooperation of the palace.
What about items received before the policy was created?What about items received before the policy was created?
The policy is silent about items received before 1995. This has created uncertainty and ambiguity about the status of items received by Elizabeth, including valuable gifts of jewellery from foreign heads of state at her wedding in 1947, her coronation in 1953, and at official events, such as state visits, throughout her reign.The policy is silent about items received before 1995. This has created uncertainty and ambiguity about the status of items received by Elizabeth, including valuable gifts of jewellery from foreign heads of state at her wedding in 1947, her coronation in 1953, and at official events, such as state visits, throughout her reign.
Items received in similar circumstances today would unambiguously be considered official gifts.Items received in similar circumstances today would unambiguously be considered official gifts.
What happened before the policy was drafted?What happened before the policy was drafted?
There were a series of embarrassing incidents, including in the late 1980s when Buckingham Palace claimed that Prince Charles and Princess Diana had received only a painting and a dovecote from the sultan of Oman as a gift. It later emerged that they had also received an £80,000 sports car and sapphire and diamond jewellery.There were a series of embarrassing incidents, including in the late 1980s when Buckingham Palace claimed that Prince Charles and Princess Diana had received only a painting and a dovecote from the sultan of Oman as a gift. It later emerged that they had also received an £80,000 sports car and sapphire and diamond jewellery.
Prince Charles ordered a formal review of, among other matters, the policy on official gifts after the Paul Burrell affair in 2003. Burrell, Diana’s butler, was charged with theft after police found hundreds of her possessions in his loft. The trial collapsed after the queen claimed Burrell had told her he was keeping the items for safekeeping.Prince Charles ordered a formal review of, among other matters, the policy on official gifts after the Paul Burrell affair in 2003. Burrell, Diana’s butler, was charged with theft after police found hundreds of her possessions in his loft. The trial collapsed after the queen claimed Burrell had told her he was keeping the items for safekeeping.
Can the policy be enforced?Can the policy be enforced?
No, because it is only a set of guidelines, and contains no instructions on what steps should be taken if it emerges that the monarch or any other member of the family has violated the policy.No, because it is only a set of guidelines, and contains no instructions on what steps should be taken if it emerges that the monarch or any other member of the family has violated the policy.
In 2006, Princess Margaret’s son, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, was able to auction off her possessions, including 47 official gifts, despite this being clearly against the spirit of the policy. The queen ordered him to donate the proceeds from the official gifts to charity.In 2006, Princess Margaret’s son, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, was able to auction off her possessions, including 47 official gifts, despite this being clearly against the spirit of the policy. The queen ordered him to donate the proceeds from the official gifts to charity.
Are the royal family subject to different rules to other public figures?Are the royal family subject to different rules to other public figures?
Yes. While family members often function as ambassadors in meetings with foreign officials and heads of state, staff with the UK’s diplomatic service are subject to much stricter requirements around what must be declined or recorded as a gift.Yes. While family members often function as ambassadors in meetings with foreign officials and heads of state, staff with the UK’s diplomatic service are subject to much stricter requirements around what must be declined or recorded as a gift.
Especially unusual is the degree of secrecy around gifts and private relationships that develop as a result of official encounters. Ministers and members of parliament are expected to make extensive declarations of their financial and other interests in order to prevent public corruption.Especially unusual is the degree of secrecy around gifts and private relationships that develop as a result of official encounters. Ministers and members of parliament are expected to make extensive declarations of their financial and other interests in order to prevent public corruption.
“When the royal family interact with foreign governments, they very clearly do so in the public service, often on the advice or request of government,” said Susan Hawley, the director of the charity Spotlight on Corruption. “Rules on not accepting gifts, and disclosing any that are accepted, are there for a purpose: to protect the reputation of the UK and its public institutions from accusations of being open to influence from the highest bidder.”“When the royal family interact with foreign governments, they very clearly do so in the public service, often on the advice or request of government,” said Susan Hawley, the director of the charity Spotlight on Corruption. “Rules on not accepting gifts, and disclosing any that are accepted, are there for a purpose: to protect the reputation of the UK and its public institutions from accusations of being open to influence from the highest bidder.”