Prince Harry and Meghan receive their first baby gift but this is why they can’t keep it

It makes sense when you think about it...

prince harry meghan markle baby

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have already been given their first adorable gifts for their unborn child but the couple might not be able to keep them…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent the world’s media into a frenzy earlier this week when they confirmed that they were expecting their first child together.

The news came just days after royal fans speculated that Meghan was pregnant when she attended Princess Eugenie’s wedding in Windsor.

Harry and Meghan tied the knot just five months ago and have just started their first official royal tour together to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

Despite official health warnings the couple do not plan to cut the trip short. They have received an incredibly warm reception in Australia and have already been given their first gift for their unborn child from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and his wife, in Australia.

The gift came in the shape of an adorable cuddly kangaroo toy, complete with a baby joey, as well as a tiny pair of fleece Ugg Boots.

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As Meghan was handed the soft toy, she gushed: ‘That’s so cute! Our first baby gift!’

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The Daily Mail’s royal correspondent Rebecca English also tweeted that Meghan was given a toy Koala while at Taronga Zoo and said it would go in the nursery.

However, despite Meghan’s assertions that the gifts would be taking pride of place in the couple’s home, it is very unlikely they’ll be able to officially accept them.

This is because of a royal rule that dictates that the royal family must not accept gifts unsolicited gifts because it can lead to lots of complications.

It is for this reason that none of the royal children have been allowed to play with the hundreds of thousands of gifts they’ve been sent over the years.

Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, explained: ‘It’s just a common practice in the Royal household that they do not accept unsolicited gifts, because there are just so many repercussions.’

So if Harry and Meghan accept the gifts they would technically be breaking royal protocol - no matter how cute the little toys are!

Jessica Ransom
Senior Food Writer

Jessica is a freelance food writer, stylist and recipe tester. She previously worked as Senior Food Writer at Future. While at Future Jessica wrote food and drink-related news stories and features, curated product pages, reviewed equipment, and developed recipes that she then styled on food shoots. She is an enthusiastic, self-taught cook who adores eating out and sharing great food and drink with friends and family. She has completed the Level 1 Associate course at the Academy of Cheese and is continually building on her knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits.