The royal wedding has, thus far, flouted expectations in almost every way. From the prohibition of commemorative tea towels (now, thankfully, overturned) to Kate Middleton’s planned arrival to Westminster Abbey in nothing but a common saloon car, the royal wedding has set itself apart as a thoroughly modern affair.
However, rumours are surfacing that the royal couple intend to ask for donations instead of traditional wedding gifts, which would mean that valuable pressies from foreign heads of state might be turned down. Royal weddings usually garner a phenomenal array of luxurious gifts, including diamonds and precious trinketry, often deemed priceless. The gifts are accepted with the intention that the royal couple wear them at state functions and foreign visits, a tradition that has long been upheld by royal families.
Nevertheless, it now seems that Middleton’s more down-to-earth approach will shake up even the most antiquated of traditions, when Prince William and his fiancée ask for donations on the 29th April in place of precious gems.