Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Princess Catherine, is no stranger to receiving luxurious gifts from royals and world leaders. As a future king, his birthdays and milestones have often been marked with extraordinary presents—including a £10,000 white gold charm bracelet and rare artifacts from the Vatican.
However, one particular gift from his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, left many surprised—not because of its grandeur, but because of its simplicity.
After previously gifting Prince George a £10,000 jewelry piece crafted by celebrity designer Theo Fennell, the late Queen once chose a far more modest present: a T-shirt. But not just any T-shirt—it featured a custom portrait of one of her beloved corgis.
The artwork on the shirt was created by UK-based artist Cindy Lass, who had originally been commissioned to paint portraits of Queen Elizabeth’s corgis for her 80th birthday. In an interview with Hello! magazine, Lass shared that she had made a sample toddler T-shirt featuring the artwork and decided to include it with a cushion she was sending to the Queen.
“I thought it would be a sweet gesture for her great-grandson to have,” Cindy explained. To her delight, Queen Elizabeth personally thanked her and confirmed that the shirt had indeed been given to Prince George.
This simple, personal gift stood out among the many lavish items George has received over the years. For example:
Celebrity jeweler Theo Fennell gifted an 18-karat white gold charm bracelet valued at £10,000 to Prince George and Princess Kate. The bracelet was later auctioned for charity.
Pope Francis presented the late Queen with a lapis lazuli orb topped with a cross of St. Edward the Confessor as a gift for Prince George during the Queen’s visit to Rome in 2014.
Kate’s sister, Pippa Matthews, reportedly spent over £7,000 on a silver casting of George’s hands and feet, custom-made by a boutique London firm, Riton & Platt.
King Charles gifted Prince George a beautifully crafted Victorian-style shepherd’s hut for his birthday, placed in the gardens of Highgrove House. The charming playhouse, complete with a wood-burning stove and a daybed, remains a favorite retreat for the Wales children.
Despite all the lavish gifts, Queen Elizabeth’s simple gesture may have carried the most personal meaning. Known for her lifelong love of corgis—she owned more than 30 over her reign—the Queen once referred to them affectionately as “my family.” That love was quietly passed down to George through a sweet and sentimental T-shirt.
After her passing in 2022, the Queen’s corgis were reportedly adopted by Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, with updates frequently shared on social media.
Though the royal family is often associated with opulence, this story shows that Queen Elizabeth’s gestures—however small—were always made with heart, legacy, and deep affection.