Are the Royals obliged to write a thank you note if you send them gifts?

Question

I sent some costly books to the Royal family on a good occassion. I have not received any letter or note acknowledgement saying thank you! The British have forgotten their manners?

I did not even get a printed acknowledgement!

Answer 1

You should receive some acknowledgement, from a secretary or lady-in-waiting rather than from a royal personally. I sent the queen a photo my Dad had taken of Prince Philip and received a thank you letter from her secretary immediately.

Answer 2

I understood that all gifts and most letters where replied too. they do use some sort of automated signing machine, so it looks as if the letter has been personally signed, most major auction houses have a sample so they can compare genuine signatures with this machine one.

Maybe the gift was not received, did you send this costly gift via record delivery, you can check with post office if it was delivered.
Unfortunately a large amount of post is going missing, and any parcels sent to the royal family could be targetted if no record of that delivery was being kept.

Secondly, you address details may not have been included.

I would suggest a polite enquiry as to whether they received the gift, and if not, chase up the post office.

I always take flowers or chocolates whenbeing invited to my American friends houses or even when I receive invites from their friends during my stay. I write thank you letters and send a Christmas card the first christmas after such visits. Manners cost nothing and we should try and make the effort to thank those who have help in some way, large or small

Answer 3

I don't know about gifts, but sometimes letters do get a response. The Queen will have her lady-in-waiting send a response. I saw the Queen Mother years ago and I took some photographs, which I later sent to her. They were very close-up, with local politicians, and I thought she might like to have them. I got a response from her lady-in-waiting who was none other than Princess Diana's grandmother (Lady Fermoy). I didn't expect to open the mailbox and have an impressive letter waiting for me from Buckingham Palace, stamped with the crown (no stamp). The tone of the letter was formal and flowery: "I am commanded by Her Majesty the Queen Mother to write and thank you for the lovely photographs ...."

Answer 4

They aren't obliged to do anything at all and quite often don't. As for manners, have a look at Simon Cowell or Piers Morgan and I think that will answer your question about British manners. The Brits representatives now are louts: that must suggest something about them.

Answer 5

Like a lot of other respondents, I'm curious why you'd send books to a family who probably has one of the largest libraries in the world. (Not the largest--that's our own Library of Congress, thank you.)

And the British have never had manners.

Answer 6

Books?? They have librairies... Why send books?? But I think you were hoping for attention... and a thank you note....
If the gift is truly a gift, be happy if they ever actually got it IN, after all the security search, etc... They may have never even been presented to them at all.....

Answer 7

First question why you send book's ? secondly they don't personally write thank you notes themselves. Most is done by staff at each royal member office.

Answer 8

It is extremely rude to send people gifts just so that you get a thank you in reply. A true gift should be sent from a generosity of spirit and good-will that requires no thanks.

Answer 9

I don't believe they are allowed to receive gifts (security), unless it's from the head of another country.

Answer 10

They are royal they can do anything even the most unethical things and call it royalty