Royal wedding: charitable gifts, not presents

03/16 10:23 CDT Royal wedding: charitable gifts, not presents
   
Royal wedding: charitable gifts, not presents
   
By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) -- What to get the couple who has everything? How about a donation
to a rhino sanctuary _ or an offer of help for earthquake victims in New
Zealand.
Prince William and Kate Middleton on Wednesday became Britain's first royal
couple to request charitable gifts in lieu of presents Wednesday, seeking to
pre-empt the tide of extravagant _ and unusual _ offerings that typically flood
in for a royal engagement.
The palace said the couple was "touched by the goodwill shown them," and
selected 26 charities to benefit from a special charity gift fund.
Their decision to forego toasters, gravy boats and candlesticks sets William
and Middleton apart from other soon-to-be newlyweds and even the prince's
parents, whose use of a wedding gift registry, replete with items such as a
gourmet barbecue set and pair of Cockatoos, was slammed by the press as "a
vulgar, middle-class custom."
While Charles and Diana did get some gifts in the form of charitable donations,
William and his bride-to-be are said to be determined to make sure their April
29 wedding is not seen as overly ostentatious at a time when the British
economy is hurting.
The charities they have selected _ including some based in Canada, Australia
and New Zealand _ represent a range of issues, from support for army widows to
local community foundations and the arts.
The list does not include any charities focused on relief efforts around last
week's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. William and Middleton are
"obviously very shocked and saddened by the events in Japan," but the list of
charities has been in the works for weeks and is focused on countries the
prince has visited, a spokeswoman for his office said. She spoke on condition
of anonymity under palace rules.
"They are charities that have a particular resonance with Prince William and
Miss Middleton and reflect issues in which the couple have been particularly
interested in their lives to date," the palace said in a statement.
The couple were engaged while on holiday in Kenya, and the prince's affinity
for causes on the continent is represented in charities focusing on wildlife
conservation in Africa and beyond.
William's dedication to military service is also apparent _ he and Middleton
chose to support the Army Widows' Association, a group dedicated to alleviating
the symptoms of combat stress and financial support for veterans.
Children's charity ACT said the gift would help raise awareness about children
with terminal or life-threatening conditions.
"This charitable gift fund is such a thoughtful and generous gesture from the
couple and I am absolutely thrilled that ACT is one of the chosen charities,"
said ACT Chief Executive Lizzie Edwards.
Speculation that the couple would focus on charity organizations was rife
following news of their engagement and one of their first official wedding
gifts built on the philanthropic bent.
St. Andrew's University _ where William and Middleton met and fell in love _
bestowed a scholarship for underprivileged students worth 70,000 pounds
($113,000).
Still, other presents have been more personal, with the British ambassador to
Israel promising to deliver a Jewish-style marriage contract from Michael
Horton, a British-born Israeli, who has designed an intricately illustrated,
custom-made contract in Hebrew and English for the couple.
While William and Middleton are the first British royals to ask solely for
donations, if past weddings are any indication, the young couple can still
expect some offbeat presents.
Diana and Charles received a ton of locally grown peat from a council in
Somerset, and the Canadian government reportedly sent them are room full of
antique 18th and 19th century furniture _ including a four-poster bed and
drop-leaf desk.
___
Online:
Royal Wedding website http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/
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Congratulations to Prince William of Wales and Catherine (Kate) Middleton on the announcement of their engagement! Best wishes on their upcoming wedding / nuptials in 2011! As with the wedding of Diana and Charles, it promises to be the "Wedding of the Century"!