Society

British royal family orders Chinese wedding gift

By Du Wenjuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-28 11:33

Counting down to the royal wedding of British Prince William and his girlfriend of nine years, Kate Middleton, the royal family has picked a stone carving from China for the couple, Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the stone-made teapot, finely carved on a stone from Taihu Lake in East China, featuring red jujubes, peanuts and longans, will be presented to the royal couple on their wedding day.

The three lucky objects according to traditional Chinese culture?-- red jujube, peanut and longan, which are also represented by the Chinese characters zao (early), sheng (give birth to) and gui (noble) -- bear the wishes for the newlyweds.

Contacted by the British family in February through the UK China Culture Association, a nonprofit organization, Chinese artist Cai Yundi spent a month to finish the work and handed it over to the Queen’s representative a few days ago.

The teapot is now stored at Buckingham Palace.

According to another report from Chinanews.com.cn, a bedding set with a silk quilt cover and a teaset have also been presented to the royal family.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will have their wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29.