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What strange and unique gifts did The Queen and The Royal Family receive in 2013?

<![CDATA[From a chocolate Windsor Castle to a garden gnome, the Royal Family received a colourful array of official gifts last year from the wonderful to the unique.
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Every year, the official gifts list provides an interesting insight into what members of the public, companies and dignitaries give to the most famous family in the world.
Last year Her Majesty received a pearl necklace from the President of the United Arab Emirates and a tourmaline brooch from Saskatchewan in Canada. Despite all of these luxury items, the monarch also received a 13lb artillery cartridge, a chocolate Windsor Castle and a 500 rupee banknote encased in perspex amongst other strange items.
When the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Sri Lankia and India last year, they received an elephant headress, a tea cosy and lots of toys of behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Whilst other members of the Royal Family were offered more ornamental gifts, The Princess Royal received a hat with horse ears knitted on and a book titled ‘Your Arms Remind Me of Pork Luncheon Meat’ – when in Canada, she received  when visiting Canada, she was presented with a portrait of her riding a moose.
Prince Harry, who visited the USA on an official tour last year was gifted, by The First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, gifted a brown leather flying jacket. The Prince also received a 3D printed doll of himself.
Some cufflinks, a bottle of beer and a morse code key mounted on wood were among some of the gifts the Duke of Edinburgh received.
The Duke of York received a gingerbread cathedral and a desk tidy as well as an iPad Mini – the Duke if well known to be interested in technology.
Princess Alexandra, The Queen’s cousin received no official gifts in 2013, though did spend some months away from public duties due to suffering from effects of polymyalgia rheumatica, a form of arthritis.
Official gifts from the Royal Family are able to be used by them, though since a few years ago they are not held in a private capacity by members of the family. Gifts which are not used are often donated to charities.
photo credit: Birmingham News Room via photopin cc]]>