Buckingham Palace has attributed a significant delay in publishing royal gift lists to the transition of reign following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in October 2022.
The Palace’s failure to declare official gifts for the past four years has drawn criticism from anti-monarchy campaigners, who argue for greater transparency.
A spokesperson from the Palace told The Mail: “We will publish the details when the records are up to date following the transition of reign.”
This explanation comes amidst growing concerns over the Royal Family’s gift acceptance practices, with campaigners calling for standards similar to those applied to MPs.
Buckingham Palace blames major error on King Charles succeeding late QueenGettyThe most recent annual list of official gifts given to working royals was published in April 2020, leaving a substantial gap in public records.
Recent concerns about royal gift transparency have reignited discussions about past scandals.
The “cash-for-honours” allegations and uncertainty surrounding the Duchess of Sussex’s £500,000 diamond earrings, gifted by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, have fuelled the debate.
Royal gift acceptance guidelines, established in 1995 and later updated, stipulate that gifts should not be accepted if they could be seen to put royals under obligation to the donor.
Royal gift acceptance guidelines, established in 1995 and later updated, stipulate that gifts should not be accepted if they could be seen to put royals under obligation to the donor
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Personal gifts can only be kept under strict conditions, such as being worth less than £150 or given by individuals with whom the royal has an established relationship.
Otherwise, gifts are classified as “official” and are not considered personal property of individual royals.
The lack of transparency in royal gift disclosures has been highlighted by comparing recent practices to historical precedents.
While 2,500 items gifted to then-Princess Elizabeth for her 1947 wedding were publicly displayed, no list of wedding gifts was published for the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.
The ‘cash-for-honours’ allegations and uncertainty surrounding the Duchess of Sussex’s £500,000 diamond earrings, gifted by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, have fuelled the debate
PA
Similarly, only a few official presents for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 were revealed, with uncertainty surrounding gifts received for King Charles’s Coronation.
This contrasts sharply with the expectations placed on politicians, who must declare “freebies” such as concert tickets and clothing.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, emphasised the importance of full disclosure, stating: “If we demand high standards from politicians, we must demand those same standards from the royals.”
The Palace’s explanation for the delay in gift disclosures comes amid ongoing investigations into royal charitable foundations.
A spokesperson from the Palace has said they will ‘publish the details when the records are up to date following the transition of reign’
PA
Last month, Michael Wynne-Parker, a society fixer involved in a “cash for honours” scandal, was disqualified from charity roles for 12 years following an investigation into donations to the King’s Foundation.
The Charity Commission found that nearly £200,000 meant for the Foundation was transferred to Wynne-Parker’s private company account. Additionally, past controversies involving substantial cash donations to royal charities have resurfaced.
In 2022, it was revealed that a former Qatari Prime Minister had donated £2.5million to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund, with some payments allegedly handed over in cash-filled carrier bags.
These incidents underscore the complex relationship between royal charities and high-profile donors, further emphasising the need for transparency in gift declarations.