Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Had to Return $7 Million in Wedding Gifts

A royal wedding doesn’t happen every day, which is why these kinds of celebrity nuptials are so highly anticipated. And while the main components of these events typically aren’t open to the public, that never stops people from lining the streets, hopeful for a glimpse of the royal couple of the hour on their way to and from their ceremony. That was certainly the case on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding day on May 19, 2018; thousands of their fans stepped out to cheer on the bride and groom as they arrived in sleek cars and even stayed to watch the newlyweds depart in a horse-drawn carriage. But they did more than fill the streets of Windsor and shout their well-wishes: Many passersby acted like true wedding guests and brought gifts—and some even sent their presents to the pair before the big day, reports The Mirror.

But Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were unable to accept the majority of these gifts. Prior to the celebration, Kensington Palace released an official statement that told fans that if they hoped to give the couple a memento, it needed to be sent to Kensington Palace for review—not trekked out to Windsor. There was a protocol-based reason for this: Members of the royal family are not technically able to receive gifts, from the public or companies, that could be construed as advertising. “The fundamental principle governing the acceptance of gifts by Members of The Royal Family is that no gifts, including hospitality or services, should be accepted which would, or might appear to, place the Member of The Royal Family under any obligation to the donor,” explain the official guidelines from the royal family.

As a result, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's team ultimately needed to return $7 million worth of wedding gifts in the weeks following their nuptials, The Mirror noted. They were, however, able to accept several donations, which they had publicized before the big day; contributions were sent to a myriad of charities the couple felt passionate about, including CHIVA, Crisis, Myna Mahalia Foundation, Scotty's Little Soldiers, StreetGames, Surfers Against Sewage, and The Wilderness Foundation UK.

Of course, like any other bride and groom, the pair did receive physical gifts on their wedding day—one of which Meghan wore regularly in the months after the event. Glamour reported in 2018 that the duchess was particularly fond of the diamond tennis bracelet that King Charles gave her to mark the occasion. She donned the bauble for the majority of her post-wedding tour to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, which is when a correspondent from The Sun confirmed that it had, in fact, been a present from the bride’s new father-in-law.