Princess Charlotte 'returns £36,000 gift' due to Royal rules

Princess Charlotte, who is third in line to the throne, was forced to return an incredibly lavish gift she received as a newborn. The now-nine year old princess was gifted with a £36,000 item when she was born back in May 2015.

However, due to strict Royal protocols, the middle child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wasn't allowed to keep this extravagant present.

The gift in question was from Natural Sapphire Company, which gifted a costly baby rattle made from 18ct white gold and decorated with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies to create a Union Jack. The company explained on their website why they decided to splurge for Princess Charlotte's birth.

They wrote: "When Kate and William were engaged with the iconic blue sapphire ring that once belonged to Princess Diana, our sapphire ring sales rocketed. Women everywhere wanted to be just as fashionable as Kate. Today, we continue to grow as a business and it is with great joy that we celebrate the birth of a new royal.

"We're thanking Kate and William for introducing our company to the world, by gifting a custom-designed baby rattle, fit for their Princess. Baby gifts made from precious metals are a tradition dating back to the 18th century. Our luxury rattle, worth $45,000 (£36,000), is made from 18k white gold; lined with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds to produce the Union Jack flag.", reports Edinburgh Live.

However, it appears that Princess Charlotte never actually played with the rattle. Back in 2015, it was reported that Kate likely didn't retain the valuable gift. Kensington Palace has stated that gifts from businesses are generally not accepted.

Even if the young Royal didn't keep the luxurious baby toy, she certainly wasn't left without any special keepsakes