Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been given an untold number of gifts during her 65 years on the throne. This summer, Buckingham Palace is putting more than 200 of them on display.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been given an untold number of gifts during her 65 years on the throne. This summer, Buckingham Palace is putting more than 200 of them on display.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
Many of the gifts the Queen has been given over the years honor her personally, such as these vases from Islam Karimov, the former president of Uzbekistan. One vase has a portrait of the Queen painted on it, while the other shows her husband, Prince Philip.
Many of the gifts the Queen has been given over the years honor her personally, such as these vases from Islam Karimov, the former president of Uzbekistan. One vase has a portrait of the Queen painted on it, while the other shows her husband, Prince Philip.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
Queen Elizabeth has met every US president since Dwight Eisenhower (except for Donald Trump, who has been invited to make a state visit to the United Kingdom). John F. Kennedy gave her a photograph of himself when he visited Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth has met every US president since Dwight Eisenhower (except for Donald Trump, who has been invited to make a state visit to the United Kingdom). John F. Kennedy gave her a photograph of himself when he visited Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
Kennedy signed his photograph "with affection and highest esteem" and dated it June 5, 1961. She hosted a dinner for the President and his wife that night.
Kennedy signed his photograph "with affection and highest esteem" and dated it June 5, 1961. She hosted a dinner for the President and his wife that night.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
The Queen is famously fond of horses, and many of the gifts she's been given are horse-themed. She's also been given two dozen live horses, some of which have gone on to be used by the police or as carriage horses. In a neat twist, this gift depicts a horse that was given to the Queen as a gift 18 years earlier. She rode that horse for many years.
The Queen is famously fond of horses, and many of the gifts she's been given are horse-themed. She's also been given two dozen live horses, some of which have gone on to be used by the police or as carriage horses. In a neat twist, this gift depicts a horse that was given to the Queen as a gift 18 years earlier. She rode that horse for many years.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
From one royal to another: Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud gave the Queen this ornament showing three camels and three palm trees.
From one royal to another: Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud gave the Queen this ornament showing three camels and three palm trees.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
The Royal Gifts exhibition is arranged geographically, with objects from the same continent displayed in the same room. The Europe section features a large wooden artwork from Slovakia (center), a silver samovar from Russia (center-right) and Icelandic manuscripts given to the Queen by President Ásgeir Ásgeirsson in 1963 (upper-left, with red cover).
The Royal Gifts exhibition is arranged geographically, with objects from the same continent displayed in the same room. The Europe section features a large wooden artwork from Slovakia (center), a silver samovar from Russia (center-right) and Icelandic manuscripts given to the Queen by President Ásgeir Ásgeirsson in 1963 (upper-left, with red cover).
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
This sword and scabbard were made in Punjab, India, but they were presented to the Queen by subjects a little closer to home: the largest Sikh temple in the UK, London's Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha.
This sword and scabbard were made in Punjab, India, but they were presented to the Queen by subjects a little closer to home: the largest Sikh temple in the UK, London's Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie presented this plate to the Queen when she visited in 1965.
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie presented this plate to the Queen when she visited in 1965.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
The Queen got many gifts for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, including a fan with a diamond-topped pin and a Scottish tartan with diamond dust woven in.
The Queen got many gifts for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, including a fan with a diamond-topped pin and a Scottish tartan with diamond dust woven in.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
An association of Pakistani drivers presented this brightly colored tin model bus to the Queen and Prince Philip in 1997. It includes a picture of them and the flags of the UK and Pakistan.
An association of Pakistani drivers presented this brightly colored tin model bus to the Queen and Prince Philip in 1997. It includes a picture of them and the flags of the UK and Pakistan.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
Queen Elizabeth was given a silver bowl decorated with elephants when she visited Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1954. She received this model of the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal when she went there six years later.
Queen Elizabeth was given a silver bowl decorated with elephants when she visited Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1954. She received this model of the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal when she went there six years later.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
The most recent gift in the collection was given by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain just days before the exhibition opened in July 2017. It's a reproduction of a book that belonged to Spain's King Philip II, who married England's Queen Mary Tudor in the 16th century -- a sign of the history the two countries share.
The most recent gift in the collection was given by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain just days before the exhibition opened in July 2017. It's a reproduction of a book that belonged to Spain's King Philip II, who married England's Queen Mary Tudor in the 16th century -- a sign of the history the two countries share.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN