17 weird and wonderful gifts Queen Elizabeth II received over the years
Lauren Weymouth
09 September 2022
Gifts for the Queen
Queen Elizabeth II received many gifts over the course of her record-breaking 70-year reign. From a bag of salt and a model bus to a gold box and a throne, read on as we reflect on her life and take a look at some of the intriguing, valuable and unusual presents Her Majesty received.
Youruba Throne − Nigeria
This colourful throne is one of a pair that were presented to the Queen by the Yoruba people of Nigeria back in 1956. In Yoruba culture, beadwork and royalty are closely linked, and large quantities are considered to be a sign of wealth and status.
Totem Pole − Canada
This totem pole was hand-carved by the First Nations of Canada’s north-west coast and was presented to the Queen as a gift from Mayor Frank.J Ney of Nainaimo, British Columbia, in 1971. The thunderbird is believed to bring life, and to create thunder by the flapping of its wings.
Pair of vases − Uzbekistan
These floral decorated vases of blue, white and gold coloured porcelain, with portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip, were presented to the royal couple by the President of Uzbekistan in 1993.
The Great Mother − Macedonia (Greece)
A modern copy of an ancient Macedonian figure representing a mother, this model was presented to the Queen by the Ambassador of Macedonia during an audience at Buckingham Palace in 2013.
Vessel of Friendship − China
In 2015, this model of a treasure ship sailed by the navigator and diplomat Zeng He of the Ming Dynasty was presented to the Queen by the President of China, Xi Jinping. The intricate ship is decorated with a dove and olive branch medallion, as well as elements from Dunhuang frescoes, which are both symbolic of friendship and peace.
Banana leaf portrait − Rwanda
Created by weaving together several shades of dyed banana leaves, this unusual framed portrait was presented to Her Majesty by Paul Kagame of Rwanda to an audience in December 2006. The portrait is based on the Queen’s official Golden Jubilee photograph.
Model bus − Pakistan
This tin model of a colourful bus is decorated with floral and bird motifs, a picture of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and the flags of both the UK and Pakistan. Truck art has been continually developed in Pakistan since around 1940 and so, in 1997, this gift was presented to the Queen and Prince Phillip as a symbol of the relationship between Britain and Pakistan.
Kapua Whakarito (Budding Cloud) − Maori (New Zealand)
This Maori greenstone mere (a flattened club-shape weapon carried in a warrior’s flax belt) is a treasured heirloom, passed down through generations and only owned by people of highest standing. The Queen was presented the sacred gift during an audience at Buckingham Palace in 1964.
Gold box − Brunei
During a tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei in 1972, the Queen and Prince Phillip paid a visit to Brunei when the Sultan presented Her Majesty with this gold box, decorated with intricate details. In the centre of the cover is the Brunei lion and leopard coat of arms.
Chair − Uganda
This painted wooden chair was designed for the Queen to sit on at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings in Uganda. It was presented to her during her visit in 2007.
Tree of Life − Mexico
A popular artistic form in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, trees of life are made from poetry, with a central trunk and elaborate sprouting branches. The Queen was presented with her own tree of life with colourful symbols representing the British culture by the President and First Lady of Mexico during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2015.
Puppet (wayang golek) − Indonesia
Presented to the Queen in Yogyakarta, Java in 1974 during her visit to Indonesia, this puppet is of a traditional style known as wayang golek.
Coconut basket − Tonga
During the Queen’s visit to Tonga in 1953-54, she was presented with two woven baskets by Queen Salote of Tonga. The baskets represent an industry which Queen Salote had re-established in her kingdom.
Coconut basket − Tonga
The Queen arrived onto the island by flying boat, before she was welcomed by a feast of yams, lobsters, fruit, pigs and coconut milk. In keeping with Tongan tradition, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh ate with their fingers while seated on the floor.
Bag of salt − British Virgin Islands
Salt Island, which makes up the British Overseas Territory of the British Virgin Islands, formerly paid the monarch a yearly rent in the form of a pound of salt on the islands' birthday. The tradition was reintroduced in 2015 and this was the example presented to the Queen on her 90th birthday in 2016.
Owl − UK
Representing the bird that features on the coat of arms for the City of Leeds, this model owl was presented to the Queen on a visit to Leeds in 2002 as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Silhouette of Sheffield − UK
This tealight holder shows the silhouette of the historic buildings in the city of Sheffield, which for centuries was a hub for metalwork, including cutlery and silver. The piece was commissioned by the Queen, and presented to her by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield during her visit to the town in 2015.
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