Queen Elizabeth received gifts from China’s Xi Jinping, India’s president, the Japanese emperor, Thailand’s king … which world leader gave the British royal with everything, the best diplomatic present?

Oct 8 , 2020

Puppet in a Wooden Case. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

Queen Elizabeth boasts an estimated net worth of US$0.5 billion covering royal estate assets, jewellery, artworks and more – and the British royal code generally advises the royal family against accepting gifts, but there are exceptions – here are 8 diplomatic gifts for the royal who has it all

Queen Elizabeth follows a strict protocol when receiving gifts: according to the royal code, members of the royal family should not accept presents from British-based businesses, but an exception might be made for a souvenir of an official visit, a wedding gift, or a gift marking other special occasions.

The queen might be known for her frugal habits, but she still has an estimated net worth of half a billion dollars covering royal estate assets as well as jewellery, artworks, and furniture pieces. This poses a dilemma: what can world leaders give to a royal who already has everything?

Asian royals and political figures have managed to get creative – read on to discover eight treasures they gifted to the queen over the years.

An engraved gong

The engraved gong gifted to the queen by His Majesty Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman in 1995. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This gilt metal gong, suspended by two black horns on a rectangular base, was presented to the queen by Tuanku Ja’afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman during a lunch at Buckingham Palace in 1995. It is engraved with the Malaysian coat of arms.

A model ship

The Vessel of Friendship gifted to the queen by President Xi Jinping in 2015. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

Modelled after the treasure ship sailed by Zheng He, a navigator and a diplomat in the Ming dynasty, the Vessel of Friendship was given to the queen by President Xi Jinping during a state visit in 2015. It features a design of a dove, an olive branch, and Chinese symbols of peace and friendship.

A gold lacquered box

The gold lacquered box gifted to the queen by Emperor Showa of Japan in 1953. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This gold lacquered box, which sports an image of a heron, was created by Meiji and Taisho-era lacquerer Shirayama Shosai. Emperor Showa of Japan sent this to the queen in 1953 as a coronation gift.