Kangaroo jerky and a cricket ball: the novel gifts Aussies gave to the King and Queen

Flowers for the King and Queen, books and toys for the grandchildren, and some random packets of kangaroo jerky were among gifts for the royals. See the video.

From flowers and toys for the grandchildren to books and random packets of kangaroo jerky, Australians have welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla with thoughtful gifts.

Rector Micky Mantle from St Thomas’s Church, where the King and Queen attended a Sunday service, presented the royal couple with presents for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, including a Wallabies rugby ball, a Kookaburra cricket ball, and a children’s book about the former Queen Elizabeth.

Mr Mantle said his own children guided his thinking about appropriate presents for the young royals.

“My children mirror the ages of the royal grandchildren,” he said. “My son Theodore is six, just a bit younger than Prince Louis. My daughter Olivia is eight, just a bit younger than Princess Charlotte. And my son Jonathan or Jono, is 10, and he is just a bit younger than Prince George.

“We thought ‘What would be fitting presents for them?’”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a church service officiated by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel. Picture: Rohan Kelly

There was also a present for the King himself: a biography about Arthur Stace, the former alcoholic who for decades inspired Sydneysiders to contemplate the big picture by chalking the word “Eternity” in his distinctive cursive handwriting around the city.

“Mr Eternity is the story of Arthur Stace who was a drunk and a criminal. He heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it changed his life,” Mr Mantle said.

“And he wanted to shout to the people of Sydney, the eternity, the eternal life that is offered in Jesus Christ. And he did it because he was an uneducated man.”

There was also an unlikely connection between Arthur Stace and the royal family: his great grandfather was chaplain to Queen Victoria, Mr Mantle said.

Limited Edition Kangaroo jerky from Bondi Smokehouse. Source – https://www.bondismokehouse.com.au/

One of the more unusual gifts was presented to King Charles while he did a meet and greet with spectators after the church service.

Christian Gilles from the company Bondi Smokehouse presented the monarch with two packets of kangaroo jerky, seasoned with lemon myrtle.

“That’s for you and your wife,” Mr Gilles told the King after explaining what it was.

“Oh kangaroo, that’s very nice,” the King replied.

About six big bunches of flowers and almost as many gift bags were presented to the royal couple during their visit to the church, the items taken away by royal aides.

president of the Legislative Council, Ben Franklin (right), watches as King Charles III turns an hourglass he is presenting as a gift to mark the Bicentenary of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Picture: Aaron Chown/Pool via Getty Images

The British Royal Family policy on receiving gifts, including the myriad items handed to them over barricades from members of the public, states that “the retention or disposal of official gifts should, under all circumstances, avoid causing offence to donors”.

It is forbidden for gifts to be sold or exchanged, but they can be used or consumed by Members of the Royal Family.

“In addition, if perishable official gifts with a value less than £150 (A$290) are not to be personally used or consumed by the Member of the Royal Family, in order to avoid waste, they may be given to charities or other third parties, including, for the avoidance of doubt, staff,” the policy states.

With a recommended retail price of $20, the kangaroo jerky certainly fits in to that category – which means a lemon myrtle-seasoned protein hit could be coming some lucky staffer’s way, very soon.

Originally published as Kangaroo jerky and a cricket ball: the novel gifts Aussies gave to the King and Queen