{"id":2877,"date":"2017-05-25T08:38:52","date_gmt":"2017-05-25T08:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/?p=2877"},"modified":"2025-05-16T12:17:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T12:17:43","slug":"8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/","title":{"rendered":"8 of the strangest gifts ever received"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Tinggly, we\u2019re all about helping people find the perfect gift for that special someone, wherever they are and whatever they like to do. But of course there are many gifts that don\u2019t quite hit the mark, or are simply just too bizarre for words. Here\u2019s a few of them\u2026<\/p>\n

Weird Royal Gifts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Royalty\u00a0have\u00a0strict rules governing what can and can\u2019t be done with gifts they receive, which is necessary since they are given so many they could probably fill a palace with them. One of the strangest gifts ever given to Queen Elizabeth II was 500 cases of tinned pineapple, sent by Australia as a wedding present.<\/p>\n

Animals have often been given as gifts between world leaders of course. Queen Elizabeth could have opened a zoo by now, while President George Bush once received a komodo dragon, Vladimir Putin was given a puppy by Bulgaria, and China has been practising what\u2019s known as \u2018panda diplomacy\u2019 for years. In 2013 Malian officials gifted a camel to President Francois Hollande of France. He promptly regifted it to a Timbuktu family, who made it into a stew!<\/p>\n

\"\"

As of 2014, any gift over the value of $375 has to be placed in the National Archives to prevent any notion of impropriety. After the president leaves office, the gifts they have received often go to their presidential library, but they do have the option to buy them at market value. Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, would have found it difficult to judge the price of a gift he once received, which was a lemon carved in the shape of a pig. It may or may not have been related to his wife\u2019s nickname of \u2018Lemonade Lucy\u2019 which she received after she banned alcoholic drinks from state functions.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Australia (them again!) topped this, when the Chief Minister of the Northern Territories gave visiting President Obama the gift of crocodile insurance – had he been devoured by a hungry croc during his trip, Michelle would have got a payout of some AUD$50,000. Obama was reportedly \u201crelieved\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"

If your loved one promised you a birthday dinner and then took you out for fast food, you\u2019d understandably be a bit disappointed. Kanye West took the concept to a whole new level though, when he bought 10 Burger King franchises for Kim Kardashian<\/a> as a wedding gift! \"\"

Richard Burton went for a slightly more classy approach when he gave his wife Elizabeth Taylor a 69-carat pear-shaped diamond in 1969. A decade later, she auctioned it off and used the $5 million proceeds to help build a hospital in Botswana, saying \u201cThey need one badly and I certainly don\u2019t need another ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Creepiest Gift Ever?<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of these gifts pale into insignificance when put against the one given by James Allen<\/a>. Allen was a notorious 19th century highwayman who grudgingly respected the man who eventually brought him to justice. Before he went to the gallows the crook wrote his life story and a confession of his crimes, and arranged to have the book bound – in his own skin. This was presented to the detective and now sits in the Boston Athenaeum. Mmm, tasteful.If you\u2019re on the hunt for unusual, but still amazing gifts, then you\u2019ll find plenty of inspiration in the Tinggly catalogue<\/a> where you can give the whole world in just one gift!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Tinggly, we\u2019re all about helping people find the perfect gift for that special someone, wherever they are and whatever they like to do. But of course there are many gifts that don\u2019t quite hit the mark, or are simply just too bizarre for words. Here\u2019s a few of them\u2026 Weird Royal Gifts Royalty\u00a0have\u00a0strict rules governing what can and can\u2019t be done with gifts they receive, which is necessary since they are given so many they could probably fill a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":7675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[648,54,400,647,649,646,650],"class_list":["post-2877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gifts","tag-bizarre","tag-facts","tag-gifts-2","tag-received","tag-strange","tag-strangest","tag-wtf"],"yoast_head":"\n8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Tinggly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-05-25T08:38:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-16T12:17:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Goda\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Goda\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/\",\"name\":\"8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-05-25T08:38:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-16T12:17:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/9d655a71e3626930bd934332e4622c30\"},\"description\":\"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":1365},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"8 of the strangest gifts ever received\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/\",\"name\":\"Tinggly\",\"description\":\"World's best experience gifts that create unforgettable stories\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/9d655a71e3626930bd934332e4622c30\",\"name\":\"Goda\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26ca0954c54e4c06c0ebbc041de3234?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26ca0954c54e4c06c0ebbc041de3234?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Goda\"},\"description\":\"I believe every great gift should come with a memory attached. That\u2019s why I\u2019m at Tinggly, writing about real moments and endless adventures, from pasta classes to mountain sunrises. I\u2019m here to inspire choices that create stories, not stuff!\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/author\/goda\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly","description":"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly","og_description":"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.","og_url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/","og_site_name":"Tinggly","article_published_time":"2017-05-25T08:38:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-16T12:17:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2048,"height":1365,"url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Goda","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Goda","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/","url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/","name":"8 of the strangest gifts ever received - Tinggly","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg","datePublished":"2017-05-25T08:38:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-16T12:17:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/9d655a71e3626930bd934332e4622c30"},"description":"Laugh and marvel at 8 of the strangest gifts ever received, showcasing the weird and wonderful side of gift-giving.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/8-of-the-strangest-gifts-ever-received\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"8 of the strangest gifts ever received"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#website","url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/","name":"Tinggly","description":"World's best experience gifts that create unforgettable stories","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/9d655a71e3626930bd934332e4622c30","name":"Goda","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26ca0954c54e4c06c0ebbc041de3234?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e26ca0954c54e4c06c0ebbc041de3234?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Goda"},"description":"I believe every great gift should come with a memory attached. That\u2019s why I\u2019m at Tinggly, writing about real moments and endless adventures, from pasta classes to mountain sunrises. I\u2019m here to inspire choices that create stories, not stuff!","url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/author\/goda\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CHILESIGN-min.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paWx0K-Kp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2877"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7970,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2877\/revisions\/7970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tinggly.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}