Quirky and Curious Gifts Received by the Royal Family

3. A Wooden Case with a Puppet

Given to: Elizabeth II, the queen Given by: State Visit to Yogyakarta, Java; Approximate retail value: $25–$50* A Wayang Golek, for those unfamiliar with Sundanese customs, is a type of traditional puppet. The puppet style originated in Indonesia's West Java and is highly popular there, especially in the Pasundan area. Thus, it was only fitting that Queen Elizabeth's journey to Java included her receiving one of these customary puppets.

A Wooden Case with a Puppet © Tim Graham via Getty Photos Hamengkubuwono IX, the Sultan of Yogyakarta at the time and the vice president of Indonesia, gave the Queen the wooden and plastic puppet in 1974. The Wayang Golek is on exhibit in the Royal Collection Trust, along with many other presents that the Queen hung onto for years.