Buy George! Kiwis splash out for prince

Prince George received 115 presents. Photo / AP

The world's most famous royal family left New Zealand well clothed, well read and with a soft toy each to cuddle, records of the gift haul from their Kiwi tour reveal.

The glare of the world's press, and thousands of excited Kiwis, greeted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their then-8-month-old son, Prince George, when the family arrived in Wellington last April.

It was the trio's first official tour as a family and Kiwis, from Prime Minister John Key to ordinary New Zealanders, lavished the family with presents. Prince George fared best.

The bonny boy, who is third in line to the throne, received 115 presents, including a tot-sized bike, almost 40 books, 30 games and toys and four soft toys. The booty was among 706 gifts he received from royal tours last year, seven times as many as his great-grandmother, the Queen.

If mum and dad allow screen time the prince, now aged 18 months, can also spend some of his down time watching a DVD given by one Kiwi.

However, he's likely too little to be trusted with the coin, pin badge and three ornaments given to him by other Kiwis. A polo mallet gifted by the Christchurch Polo Club is also likely being kept away from the grasp of little fingers for now.

One gift to the duke was described only as a "length of cloth". The duke and duchess each received rugby shirts, T-shirts and sailing jackets from the New Zealand Rugby Union, New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup organisers and Team New Zealand, but only the duchess was spoiled with more upmarket attire.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel gave the duchess pearl earrings and she received a dress and jacket. Almost all of the 181 presents given to the couple were to be shared, a task that could prove awkward with the hip flask given by an unnamed individual.

They could always discuss it over a relaxing wine; the couple left New Zealand with 13 bottles.

Other gifts were clearly headed to the display cabinet. Then-opposition leader David Cunliffe gave the duke and duchess a silver and glass artwork. A wooden spear head was the gift of choice from Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

According to the British Monarchy website gifts must not be sold or exchanged. They can be used or loaned to a museum , or given to charities or others if they are small and perishable. They can also go to the Royal Collection archive, where if they're not deemed worthy of safekeeping they may be donated to charity or destroyed.