With the birth of the royal baby expected soon, and the announcement from The Royal Mint that babies born on the same day would receive a ‘lucky’ silver penny, I was intrigued to see whether there were records showing examples of other commemorative gifts for royal births in history.
Looking through records here at The National Archives, I found a file from the Ministry of Food (MAF 99/627) relating to the commemorative food gift parcel given to mothers of babies born on 14 November 1948 – the same day as Prince Charles, HRH The Prince of Wales.
Contained within the file is correspondence from the Commonwealth Gift Centre, part of the Ministry of Food, to Buckingham Palace suggesting the idea of a food gift parcel for mothers of babies born on the same day as the royal prince. A reply was received from Buckingham Palace stating that ‘Her Royal Highness [Princess Elizabeth – now Queen Elizabeth II] thinks that this is an excellent idea and desires me to ask you to go ahead with it.’
Letter from Buckingham Palace re: Gift Food Parcels (reference: MAF 99/627)
The commemorative food gift parcels sent from the Commonwealth Gift Centre were done with the help of the Women’s Voluntary Services, who did the sending of the parcels, and the Central National Registration Office, who scrutinised the birth certificates and application forms of those that applied.
Letter from Women's Voluntary Services (reference: MAF 99/627)
What was in the food gift parcel remains inconclusive from the record but there were lots of suggestions which included honey, marmalade, soap, butter, dried egg and even meat products such as bacon and beef. However, the documentation available suggests that there were issues with perishable items, as you can well imagine. The Registrar at the Central National Registration Office amusingly notes in his correspondence that ‘I have often wondered as to the contents of these parcels, but maybe it does not concern, mere man.’
Letter from Central Registry Office re: Royal Baby Gift Parcels (reference: MAF 99/627)
The correspondence in the file notes the issues there were with delivering the parcels within what was expected to take only a few weeks following the birth. The main problem was the number of births; they had anticipated 1,500 based on the average recorded in the UK at the time, but they received a grand total of 2,269 applications.
Interestingly, the current average in 2013 for the number of children born in the UK each day is 1,983, showing the extent of the baby boom. The Royal Mint are producing 2,013 coins for the royal birth in 2013 to ensure there are enough to go round.
The unexpected increase back in 1948 would have undoubtedly created a significant administrative issue, as one official from Buckingham Palace notes: ‘The trouble appears to have been that there were at least 1,000 extra babies born on 14th November than is usual in this country. It just shows the stimulus a Royal Birth has on the productivity of this country!’
Letter from Buckingham Palace re: food gift parcels (reference: MAF 99/627)
This huge administrative task which, although it took months rather than weeks to organise, must have been very gratefully received considering it was only four years after the end of the Second World War and rationing was still in place. The correspondence notes that the final food gift parcel was delivered to Mrs Tait in Scotland in July 1949.
Letter from Central National Registration Office (reference: MAF 99/627)
In 2013, The Royal Mint are asking parents of children born on the same day as the royal baby to register their child’s birth on The Royal Mint Facebook page in order to obtain a 2013 commemorative coin. So hopefully our significant technological advances since 1948 should help to deliver the 2013 commemorative gift as quickly as possible.
As the excitement builds over the next few days and weeks, you may like to see the historic celebrations surrounding the birth of Prince Charles as shown in the British Pathé video ‘Prince Charles is Born, 1948’ via The National Archives’ Education section.
It is interesting that the National Central Registration Office (abolished in 1952) carried out the checks, I am sure the NHS (its successor) would not want to do (or should do) similar work even if there were enough staff.
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IF my previous comments caused offence i sincerely apologise as it was not intended in that vein, i respect any & everyone in my lifetime but like to say it as i see it,but accept others opinions also & bear no anomosity to them, at 88,yrs of age,one of 10 children ,w.w.2. vet, i know too well that ” life was never meant to be easy”, but accept my involvement in it & everyone else’s, [takes all sorts, hey]??,regards r.h. mace [ thank you,.
I was born on same date as the Prince of Wales. My parents told me They received a food parcel and certificate from Princess Elizabeth. The certificate has been lost and I wondered if Icould get another copy. Thankyou.
Thank you for your interest. These records were not given to The National Archives so we would be unable supply copies.
We hope you will continue to enjoy our blogs.
Is there anywhere I can contact about a replacement certificate. My date of birth 14th November, 1948, the same as The Prince of Wales.
Hi Marion,
Birth, marriage and death certificates are not kept at The National Archives – you can find out more here: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/birth-marriage-and-death-certificates/
Best,
Nell
I was born on the 14th November 1948 and was one of the 200 lucky babies given cot blankets. Apparently the government of New Zealand sent the Princess Elizabeth 100 pairs of pink cot blankets and 100 pairs of blue cot blankets. The princess asked that they be given to babies born on the 14th November 1948. A draw was made and I was one of the lucky ones. My parents had to confirm my birth and sex. I still have the blankets and accompanying letter.
I was one of those born the same day as. Prince Charles. My parents received the food parcel. I was given the letter accompanying the food parcel by my parents. Unfortunately I have mislaid it.
Grahame
Hi I was born in November 1952. I have a small Bible that was apparently given to me as a Baby to commemorate the coronation of the Queen. My father told me as I was growing up that all babies born around that time were given them but I have friends born the same year who do not have them so not sure if that is true. I tried to paste a copy of a picture of it here but could not seem to manage it. fyi It is blue with the Elizabeth 2nd crest on it and inside on the first page it quotes ‘To Commemorate the Coronation of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – 2nd June 1953.
I was born on the same day as princess Beatrice 08/08/1988 and I received a silver spoon
I was born 14/11/1948 my parents were fortunate enough to receive the blanket from the Princess Elizabeth they also received gifts from the dignitaries of Cheltenham including a silver spoon from the Lord Mayor and i still have the letters that accompanied the gifts. Annette
I was also born 14th November 1948 and was always told the Prince Charles was an hour older than me. I was also told that a parcel received contained amongst other items was fresh and dried fruit. As for a certificate I know nothing about it fearing it must have been lost over the years. My photo appeared in the daily sketch newspaper upon my 1st birthday …I still have a copy of that.
Joan Margaret Rollason.
I still have
Telegram from Buckingham Palace.
Certificate from Princess Elizabeth.
I was sent a cot blankets”
Canned Australian fruits, Soap.
From the WVS of The Government of New South Wales, Australia.
My daughter is now a citizen of Australia, living in New South Wales
I was born the same day as Prince Charles and when the doctor went to my mum said the queen has had a prince and you have a princess. I believe mum got a food parcel but know no more than that.
Zara Philipps was born the same day as my wife and she received a christening gown. my mother inlaw has told me they gor a voucher when they registered her birth and picked it up in a boots store
I was also born same day month and year .still have the certificate but sadly lost the silver spoon with the Windsor coat of arms
My only claim to fame is I was born on the same day as King Charles, my mother received a food parcel, I believe it contained tea sugar and tined fruit with a silver spoon. I have tried to replace the silver spoon but with no luck .
As a matter of interest, were the parents of children born on the wedding day of Princess Elizabeth and Philip (20th November 1947), also given food parcels?