Prince William once admitted to giving Kate Middleton a gift that left her baffled and "didn't go down well" in the early days of their relationship: a pair of binoculars. He revealed this during an appearance on Peter Crouch's podcast, recalling that he had no idea why he chose such a present, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Kate has reportedly never let him forget this "awful gift." This anecdote highlights the royal family's tradition of exchanging light-hearted, joke presents rather than extravagant ones, a practice stemming from their Germanic roots. They also exchange gifts on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, with the unwrapping process historically overseen by the late Prince Philip.
Other notable joke gifts mentioned include a "grow-your-own-girlfriend kit" from Kate to Prince Harry and a bath hat reading 'Ain't life a b*tch' given to the late Queen by Prince Harry. In a contrasting, more practical gift, Kate recently received a chainsaw after expressing interest in carpentry and beekeeping during a visit to the Isle of Mull.