Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reportedly Returning $9 Million Worth of Wedding Gifts

Nearly two weeks after they tied the knot, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly returning $9 million in wedding gifts. 

The gifts are being returned because palace aides want to prevent companies and people from using the couple for publicity, according to reports. 

"The fundamental principle governing the acceptance of gifts by Members of the Royal Family is that no gifts, including hospitality or services, should be accepted which would, or might appear to, place the Member of the Royal Family under any obligation to the donor," according to official royal guidelines.

One swimwear company sent the couple bathing suits in hopes they would use them on their honeymoon, according to The Express.

Guidelines also state that gifts offered from British businesses "should normally be declined" unless they are a souvenir from an official visit, wedding or personal occasion. 

The royals can only take a gift if it should be "contingent upon the enterprise undertaking not to exploit the gift for commercial purposes."

If a gift comes from a person the couple does not know, it "should be refused where there are concerns about the propriety or motives of the donor or the gift itself."

Before their May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle, the couple said that if anyone wanted to give them a gift, they requested it be a donation to one of seven charities of their choice that they support, like CHIVA, Crisis, Myna Mahalia Foundation, Scotty's Little Soldiers, StreetGames, Surfers Against Sewage, and The Wilderness Foundation UK.

One gift that the couple won’t be returning is the home Queen Elizabeth is reportedly giving them. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan will reportedly live at York Cottage on the queen’s Sandringham Estate. 

The couple is also reportedly going to honeymoon at a Canadian resort later this year. 

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