Kiwis gave Prince Charles fairy dust

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meet fans during the 'Tea With Taranaki' event last November. Photo / Hagen Hopkins / Getty

The Prince of Wales was given armfuls of presents for his grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, during his official travels last year.

Among the baby booties, a wooden rattle and giant lollipop was an unusual offering: Fairy dust, courtesy of a New Zealander.

The fairy dust was among a list of official gifts received by members of the Royal Family as they attended royal engagements both in the UK and overseas last year.

Kiwis were notably generous when the Prince and his wife Camilla visited here last November.

New Zealand speaker of parliament, David Carter, presented the royal couple with a woollen poncho for Charlotte and a woollen tank top for George.

As to what the Prince did with the fairy dust is anyone's guess. Official gifts to members of the royal family can be worn and used but are not considered the personal property of the individual, as they don't pay tax on them.

They can eat any food given to them and can pass along items to charities or their staff which are worth less than £150 ($NZ331).

Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, held in trust by the Queen.

Rules around official gifts were tightened after 2003's Peat inquiry into the sale of royal gifts and the running of St James's Palace.

- nzherald.co.nz